Jail Trust Chair, CEO exits plus new members provide new options

Last Updated on January 3, 2023, 8:35 AM | Published: January 2, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY — After big, recent leadership resignations, the stage is now set for the Oklahoma County Jail Trust to take a different direction in 2023.

The next meeting of the trust is Tuesday, January 3 at 1 p.m.

Since the Oklahoma County Sheriff turned over operations of the Oklahoma County Jail to the trust in 2019, a CEO has been running the jail instead of the sheriff. And that CEO has received constant criticism from several segments of the community, including a group of pastors and activists.

Now, changes could be in order as the Jail Trust is reconstituted under new leadership yet to be chosen after these changes:

• The CEO of the Jail Trust and administrator of the Jail, Greg Williams, resigned the first week in December.
• The chair, Jim Couch, resigned December 16 and was the second person to hold that position in the three-year history of the trust.
• Two new trustees were added in September 2022, and are now in place to influence who is elected to be the next chair.
• The new members will also influence who is hired next to administrate the jail.

Members of the Jail Trust at the beginning of 2023 are:

• Ben Brown, Vice-Chair and presiding after the resignation of Couch.
• Kevin Calvey, County Commissioner, trustee
• Adam Luck, trustee
• Derrick Scobey, trustee
• Sheriff Tommie Johnson III, trustee
• Chad Alexander, trustee
• M.T. Berry, trustee
• Sue Ann Arnall, trustee

Couch’s resignation

Here is the whole resignation message sent to Oklahoma County Commissioner Brian Maughan who provided it to Free Press:

Commissioner Maughn – Please accept this as formal notice of my resignation as Trustee for the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority as of today. I am very proud of the improvements that have been made at the Oklahoma County Detention Facility. These include new water pumps, new hot water heaters, a new water managements system, newer sewage grinders, a new air filtration system, new locks, new video cameras, a new phone system, an upgraded fire protection system and a new body scanner. Operationally we have eliminated triple celling, have a new food provider with new kitchen equipment and a new commissary provider. There is a new culture amongst the detention officers to care for the detainees and plans are being implemented to ensure more time for the detainees out of their cells. This was all accomplished during a pandemic and during a time when the facility was understaffed.
As the Trust is now going through a transition in its executive director, I believe it is a good time for me to step aside. My wife and I are both retired and desiring to travel more. I don’t believe I will be in Oklahoma City enough to be an effective Trustee.
Thank you for your support. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve Oklahoma County.
Jim CouchProvided by Oklahoma County Commissioner Brian Maughan

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