The Tulsa County Sheriff's Office is trying to turn a fresh page with new acting sheriff Michelle Robinette taking charge before a new sheriff is elected, but some problems still linger.
That includes an internal affairs investigation that leaves a sergeant on leave.
"We've gone through some difficult change in the past 10 months. Some difficult issues have arisen and we've gone through difficult change," Robinette said.
The sheriff's office confirms Sgt. Mark Stevens is on leave during an internal affairs investigation involving subcontracting work done for Armor Correctional Health Services.
Sources tell 2 Works for You, employees were unhappy that they were on-call waiting for inmates to be moved to hospitals, so some may have collected payments while waiting at home.
2 Works for You sat down with Robinette this week and asked about the situation.
Reporter Joe Henke: (Stevens) is being investigated or on leave for embezzling funds through this honor system. Are you familiar with this? Or is he on leave?
Robinette: I am. That's a personnel matter right now going through internal affairs. I can't… I'm not going to comment on that.
Robinette did confirm Stevens' leave but could not provide dates.
Armor said it hs not been contacted for the investigation but sent a statement saying in part:
"These individuals are not Armor employees but rather reimbursed as subcontractors."
That subcontracting relationship appears to have ended abruptly last month. The sheriff's office said its employees are no longer allowed to work for Armor as subcontractors.
"We found a better system that doesn't waste everybody's time," officials said.
Stevens did not return requests for comment.
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