April 21, 2021 Issue, Page 1 of 14

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Wednesday, April 21, 2021 Weekend Edition Elk City Police Department celebrates Beckham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating of a Communications Officer Appreciation Week the 2019-20 fiscal year. By Shonda Little maintenance. He loved serving have been sent to Georgia to no help between them and us, the community and showed us become certified in emergency so staying calm is important. Elk City Police Chief Eddie $17.2 how million the important figure job is with was.” medical dispatching. You can beat yourself after a Holland says that Communi- Ten years ago, Denley was “You have to do this to be call if you think you didn’t do in Erick five months ago and that the child’s information cations Officer Leslie Denley working for the City of Elk able to legally give medical ad- and say all the right things, was put into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons is known for her work ethic, City in maintenance when vice to our callers. We learned so the department goes above dedication, and upbeat at- the communications position how to walk people through and beyond to make sure titude at the Elk City Police came open. everything from childbirth we are always learning,” she Department. “Working with mainte- to burn victims. Even if they emphasized. were not released by our office - regarding a NAMUS entry Denley serves as the com- nance, we did everything from called paramedics, legally, they Additionally, Denley main- munications training officer. install parts for the miniature cannot walk them through the tains the local sex offender Additionally, she maintains golf, paint light poles, and process. Dr. Friesen and Kyle registry. and operates the local sex plant flower beds. Chief Hol- The district Chervenka could have also notvery been find “They will be from a level offender registry list. As a land says that we were part helpful in teaching us what to one to a level three, depend- mother herself, Denley is of the ‘beautification depart- advise while the ambulance is ing upon the severity of their keenly aware that her job is ment,” she laughed. en route,” she said. crimes. Depending upon vital to the citizens she serves. As she worked on a project Denley praises the ECPD their classification, the law “We are often talking to at the Elk City Police Depart- for its commitment to contin- says that they must register people whenyear the fiscal theyended. are in real He ment, she was encouraged to ued education. between once every three Department of Human Services officials are working with need of help,” she explained. apply for the position within “Our department is months to once a year. That “The job comes with its tough communications. outstanding about giving isn’t the case for offenders moments. Sometimes you see “I had gone from helping us all the extra training and whoHunt, payroll/insurance are transients and do Leslie Denley. Courtesy photo. to the current fiscal year, but not have a permanent home. 48 years, with 40 of and hear tragedies unfold. It put in the military room at the education we need to do the isn’t always easy, but I know museum to working on Christ- job right. I have learned that, We require them to check in what I would want for my fam- mas continues, andI ahad in the Park. finallot of for example, sometimes the weekly. I check utility bills to verify their addresses. We will ily in that position. Even when respect for law enforcement, it is the most stressful, I try to but I had never thought of always keep in mind that I am speaking to someone’s loved pursuing the career for myself. Believe it or not, I felt a little elderly do not want to call for help because they worry about being a burden. When we get one of those calls, we require them to show receipts if they are staying in a hotel room. The laws with that Audible gun one.” self-conscious about taking are taught how to help them change sometimes, too, so it is Denley, now 50, came to the occupation later in her ca- on such an important job at first. I could see that there reer. After a decade on the job, were a lot of complexities that she now realizes law enforce- went into it. I hadn’t typed in give us all the information we need to help them. Then important that we stay on top of any changes. Sometimes we talking to a child is completely get tips from other agencies. I different. We are trained to always have an officer go with shot in Elk City Later on Tuesday on the sheriff’s office FB page, Manning said sheriff’s officials had found documents that confirmed me on these calls because I ment was a natural progres- sion for her. “My stepdad Pat Wray was in law enforcement and years and wasn’t sure that I could even perform the job. I was intimidated for my first couple of years. Now I cannot work through many different scenarios,” she said. Denley looks forward to state conferences for commu- am not I flawless, write CLEET the and that certified, probable doesn’t cause but affidavits if an offender has leads to felony then later went to work for imagine doing anything else,” nications officers. violated. I take my obligation the Oklahoma Department of Corrections as a contractor overseeing some important Denley detailed. Denley and her fellow dispatcher Wendy Grinder “There are times when we to protect the public seri- have to stay on the phone with ously. These are often severe someone from Carter. There’s ton – 1978, 1982 and See Denley 1984 – andpage 2. one state gun charge satisfied that the circumstances through which he came to been a coach for 48 years – a head football Local medical marijuana dispensary coach for 40 years – and has an overall re cord of 307-147 and a playoff record of 44- By Shonda Little A 39-year-old Elk City man has bonded out of the Beckham 24. He played football at Oklahoma State. “Our strength is going Centertoafter increase beingdramati owner discusses legislative issues County cally,” Detention he said. “The [players’] firearm after a felony conviction. The arrest dates back to March 25. charged with possession of a confidence in and need for regulating industry group At approximately 9:51 am, Elk City Department officers were dispatched to a report of people yelling and a single gunshot in the area of the 900 block of West 1st or 2nd Streets. The officers could only hear the sounds from the report but during an interview in the athletic office at couldOfficials in Beckham not see those alleged toCounty have cut nearly $1 million be yelling. from their estimated budget this year, with the final Upon arrival, multiple officers searched the area. approval of the 2019-20 fiscal year budget coming in the One officer was able to make contact with three people in a yard on the 900 block of West 2nd Street. The woman they spoke with reportedly said that she and a man had 2019-20 a verbalisbudget the search argument on to findat their before weekly the an offensive meeting officers’ coordi Monday. arrivals. Thesaid The man, fina The accident Occurred just after 6 p.m. in a hay field 3 to be Tommy Bennett, had also fled prior to their arrival. over to The women thedenied state bythathe first of firearms October. were present. Cain tried to repair something under his 1986 Ford F350 Due to the call of shots fired, a clearing search was conducted of the residence. Bennett was not found to be inside. excise board gives the final approval and signs off on it “The back door was open, and that could have been from him His starting date is the first Monday after fleeing out theBeckham Hartman, back and into the alley,” County Clerk.the officer wrote. Beckham Two neighborsCounty Sheriff’s reported hearingOffice, Carter arguing andFire, Elk saidin they City Fire, our first phase of the CAPS County officials said in April that changes thecame to budget the residence when they heard the alleged arguing. The argument was determined to only be verbal in nature. seen firsthand the need for patients to have that option and knew I tion scheme Later that for day,the Elk offense. a person called Onthe the ECPDde and reported that Ben- wanted to be involved in bringing that to them,” she said. nett was back at the residence and had locked himself inside. She and her employees aim to be cutting-edge and have embarked It was said that he had shot off a gun earlier. TheThe county cut $998,696 from its budget, guns to Hartman said upon higher education in the industry. caller said that Bennett had moved his neighbor’s “Vanessa (Cummings) and I took a dispensary management class and a budtender class out of Oklahoma City,” Thomas recounted. house because he was a convicted felon. The neighbor’s house was “These classes are not required. There are no educational require- alsodepartment described but orisevery being official withheld. gives their estimate of what ments. That is something I would like to see changed to uphold an The officer was they’re needing ablefor to the speak to year,”the neighbor Hartmanabout said. the “Thepotential excise industry standard. We wanted to do this not because we wanted to guns. Four guns were retrieved, including a single-shot Reming- By Shonda Little make more money. It cost us more money to do it, but we felt it was ton .22, a Rock Island 9mm, a Heritage .22 caliber revolver, and a could stay on the floor the important to bring the best possible knowledge and treatment to Mossberg Patriot .308 missing the bolt rendering it operable. Nestled out on North Randall, just outside of Elk City’s city limits, our patients. Then we took a class in a master of regulatory systems The guns were seized. sits 420 Pharmacy. a.m. with Hot Hash and that was taught through Chip Paul. Chip was the author of State The officer then went to Bennett’s residence and knocked on the This week, Jennifer Thomas’s dispensary will host a weeklong cel- Question 788.” door.“WeHe diddon’t not know get an those answer. figures yet,” she said. “We’re kind ebration for their second anniversary. Paul additionally created OK4U, a trade group that seeks to ac- Due to the nature of the call and concerns for Bennett’s well- “We will have something special every day, and it is all centered knowledge dispensaries who have pursued education. being, around patient education and patient advocacy,” Thomas said. OK4U is described as “a program created by Oklahomans for year before and current year figures and help the county Health to help inform and ensure medical marijuana patients and the officer opened an unlocked window and yelled for Bennett. In fact, Thomas will even be demonstrating how to clone plants. “Yes, that could lead to me losing sales in the future, but I truly commercial license holders of quality assurance and quality prac- Bennett“But we’ve made eventually 20 percent responded and camecuts; some offices outside. believe that this is all about taking control of your medical well- tices in a new and newly regulated marketplace.” Bennett was placed in hand restraints. being. Five new patients will be available to teach for each person With two decades in the medical field, Thomas advocates for a Court records indicated that Bennett has a felony conviction who A fire learnsthat burned to grow their the own Team Chip medicine. The Tae Kwon need is never-ending. high standard of care. fromget2009 those finalGarfield in the figuresCounty from them, Districtit’s kind of wait and Court. Do a Owning building Tuesday dispensary afternoon isn’t something that in youthe 1400rich, so we will get “Oklahoma does not require that any dispensary have this kind of After reading Bennett his Miranda Warning, he reportedly are not in it for the money. That is not why any of us are doing it. education, and that is something thataIdefinite date like to see as set for the a requirement. agreed Commissioners to speak with the gave their final approval for the figures officer. This is all about empowering our patients to take over their own It only hurts the industry at large if a patient gets bad information Bennett admitted to arguing but denied shooting a gun. Instead, health,” she said. or a bad product. This is medicine and should be treated as such. first weekend in November. he said it was a BB gun and the other person hitting a door. fire chief for the Elk City Fire Department. No With the official address being at 108060 North 2000 Road, pa- We have to get the medical side in line before we bring about rec- injuries tients occurred. are at the Two people heart of Thomas’s in the build operation. reational. I’m not against recreational in theory, but we want the He did, however, there, at least oneallegedly admit account into havingHartman there,” guns that he knew he said. “Iing escaped unharmed. yearsThe mainPlains part of the Medi- medical marijuana industry to be seen as ethical and consistent was not supposed to possess. worked for over twenty at Great Regional calfire occurred Center in in the radiology. When hot water heater Oklahoma area. passed the state question first,” Thomas explained. Hartman Bennett wascould placed not provide under arrest exact anfor publicHe Thecharge. figure.gun the illegal 75 children this year. That figure was up from 40 last year. $12,130. forThe insurance medical company marijuana, I felt like italso was ais investigating. great step forward. I have has been released on bail and is due back in the Beckham County See Issues page 2. District Court on May 3. Weather Vol. Vol. 117,119, No.No. 54 32 Mail delivery Home delivery Viewonline View online tomorrow 50 / 45 99/70 75 cents, 12 pgs.pgs. 75 cents, 12 580.225.3000 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com elkcityoknews.com