County Inmates Assist In Piedmont Cleanup

Jacqueline Sit, News 9

PIEDMONT, Oklahoma -- Homes across the state lie in ruin, more than a week after a deadly tornado outbreak, and many people are still working to clean everything up. And as we're finding out, some of those are actually inmates who are now also working to right their wrongs along the way.

It's why Canadian County Sheriff's Sergeant Dan Jackson and his team of trustees are in Piedmont removing debris.

"It's great to be able to help out and do good for other people," inmate Roy Killman said. "To actually help them with a peace of mind so they don't have to drive by and see it every day kind of helps them get back with their lives and helps get them going."

Dan Jackson of the Canadian County Sheriff's Department said that helping clean up storm debris isn't just good for the residents of Piedmont, it's also good for the inmates he supervises.

"Most of the people who are in jail are ordinary citizens who made mistakes, not all of them, but most of them," he said. "I'd like to give them a chance to rectify their wrongs and get on with their lives."

Roy Killman agrees. "You're not doing any good sitting in your little cell. To be able to get out here to the community and do things for people gives you a peace of mind and something to look forward to especially when you get out."

Killman said he's in trouble for not paying child support and he will be out in about a month. He said he enjoys this so much because he is needed. He said he is willing to continue volunteering until the job is done.

The inmates are slated to be out two to three times in the next few weeks until the cleanup is over.