Spencer Budget Woes Could Be Affecting Public Safety

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A man was attacked in the city of Spencer, but the first officer to arrive on the scene was from another town. It happened last Friday, and the only Spencer officer on patrol that night was ordered off the streets.

Multiple sources said the city manager in Spencer has implemented a no-overtime policy and police officers are no exception. That rule, some have said, is putting the public at risk.

The first officer on the scene of the violent fight on Paxton Place in Spencer last Friday was a Nacoma Park police officer. The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office eventually took over the investigation.

So, what happened to Spencer police?

Sources said the one and only officer scheduled to be on patrol that night was taken off the streets because the city manager did not want to approve the overtime for the officer to work.

A September 24 memo from Spencer City Manager Nicole Mukes to Police Chief Olan Boydstun warned "continuing the current outlay of overtime will cripple the city and the department financially."

Spencer City Manager Mukes refused to comment on concerns coming from citizens said it wasn't necessary. Instead, Mukes issued a statement, saying the department is down one officer and small towns with small budgets often rely on mutual aid agreements and a strong reserve force to address gaps in coverage.

Several sources said Spencer is depending too much on other law enforcement agencies to pick up the slack in their city, and it's beginning to affect those other agencies.

Mukes also said no to an interview with Spencer's police chief.

More:

• Spencer Man Found Severely Beaten; Authorities Search for Suspects