The Joplin Globe
Prosecutor says sheriff should resign
By Gary Garton
Globe Baxter Springs Bureau
Miami, Okla. – District Attorney Ben Loring wants Sheriff Ed Walker out of office.
But, state law holds no provision for the removal of a public official under indictment, because of the legal presumption of innocence until charges are proved at trial.
After Walker was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury, Loring said he thought the sheriff should step down or face removal from office. Loring said he is concerned about the status of pending court cases and investigations that could be jeopardized by the sheriff’s legal situation.
Walker told the Globe on Monday that he would not resign and would not accept a plea bargain.
Walker draws a monthly salary of $1,900. Benefits boost the total monthly cost to the county to $2,400.
Loring met Thursday at Tulsa with U.S. Attorney Steve Lewis to discuss the sheriff’s status. The district attorney said Wednesday that he would ask the federal prosecutor to share some of the evidence in the case to form a basis for an ouster action against Walker.
Loring could not be reached for comment Thursday. Lewis, who said he had talked with Loring, told the Globe by telephone: “I think we will proceed with the prosecution of our case as expeditiously as possible. Once the trial is over on that, the state can proceed with whatever action it wants to.”
James Leake, Ottawa County Commission chairman, said Thursday that Loring has asked to discuss the sheriff’s status at Monday’s commission meeting.
“We have a number of issues that need to be cleared up regarding that office,” Leake said. “The level of communications between the commission and the sheriff has gotten very bad in the last six to eight months.”
Undersheriff Mike Smith said Thursday he is acting as “temporary head of the sheriff’s office on a day-to-day basis.”
Asked whether the sheriff would return to the office after his court appearance Thursday, Smith said: “I haven’t talked to Ed in a couple of days. I don’t know what his intentions are at this point.”
Smith said that for the time being, he is not replacing four deputies who resigned in recent weeks. Mark Ellison resigned April 15; Paul Hawk resigned May1; Jeff Hurst submitted a resignation that took effect Wednesday; and Dennis King resigned effective today.
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