OKLAHOMA CITY — Attorney General John O’Connor has announced the recipients of the 2023 Safe Oklahoma Grant, which distributed $2 million among 58 statewide law enforcement agencies including the The 8th District Attorney’s Drug Task Force, which received $10,388; Newkirk police, $5,000, and the Osage County Sheriff’s Office, $15,863.
O’Connor said money from the grant will help the agencies directly target crime in their communities, pay overtime costs for officers, upgrade antiquated technology, enhance analytical capabilities, and purchase new resources.
“I am happy to announce that my office received a record number of applications this year and was able to allocate to more agencies than ever before,” said O’Connor. “This program has proven to help our law enforcement partners do their job better and reduce crime across the state. My office is honored to play a role in making communities safer by distributing these funds.”
The grant allows law enforcement agencies to submit proposals to the attorney general’s office stating how the funds will be used to reduce crime.
O’Connor said the grant continues to help both rural and metro-area agencies with basic policing necessities as well as advanced technology.
“Each department need is different, but they are all necessary to fight crime and keep our communities safe,” O’Connor said. “For example, the Pauls Valley Police Department is using the grant funds to upgrade its antiquated ink fingerprint system to a live scan fingerprint system, a tool that is used by most local agencies and has been around for 25 years.”
About the Safe Oklahoma Grant Program
Established in 2012, the Attorney General’s Safe Oklahoma Grant Program is funded by an annual appropriation from the state legislature. All sheriff’s and other local law enforcement agencies, including campus police, are eligible for the grant.
After the applications are reviewed, the grants are made on a one-year period and continued funding is not guaranteed.
Applicants must include the city’s violent crime rate for the previous five years.
2023 Grant Recipients and Amount Received:
• Canadian County Sheriff’s Office – $62,355
• District 1 DA/ Narcotics TF (Guymon) – $40,000
• District 14 DA/ Investigative Division (Tulsa County) – $24,805
• District 22 DA/ Drug & Violent Crime TF (Ada) – $8,904.85
• District 6 DA/ Drug & Violent Crimes TF (Duncan) – $25,000
• District 8 DA/ Drug TF & Major Crime Unit (Newkirk) – $10,388
• Garfield County Sheriff’s Office – $30,000
• Garvin County Sheriff’s Office – $33,667.90
• Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office – $10,000
• Major County Sheriff’s Office – $15,000
• McClain County Sheriff’s Office – $35,155.88
• Northeastern OK A&M College – $20,000
• Osage County Sheriff’s Office – $15,863
• Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office – $17,000
• Pottawatomi County Sheriff’s Office – $10,800
• Rogers County Sheriff’s Office – $25,000
• Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office – $35,000
• Woods County Sheriff’s Office – $20,000
• Woodward County Sheriff’s Office – $25,000
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