Published: September 08, 2006 12:45 pm         

DA says Sheriff should resign

CHICKASHA — District Attorney Bret Burns said Thursday that Grady County Sheriff Kieran McMullen should resign his office.

Burns made the claim after the culmination of a year-long investigation into events which allegedly occurred at the Chickasha Elks Lodge.

McMullen and his wife, Helen - a Sergeant in the Chickasha Police Department, and several other deputies and Chickasha Police Officers are the principle suspects in an investigation into illegal gambling at the lodge.

According to District Attorney Bret Burns, the investigation began after allegations surfaced regarding the sale of illegal drugs and illegal gambling at the Elks Lodge last year.

“The public corruption of the sheriff and other law enforcement officers is shocking and disappointing,” Burns said. “In my opinion, the Sheriff needs to resign.”

No arrests have been made in the case. All of the information will be taken to the multi-county grand jury in the next couple of months.

Burns said the investigation included video and audio recordings of the illegal activities.

He said video evidence also shows several of the suspects covering up illegal activities.

“Law enforcement officers have continuously broken the law themselves,” Burns said. “They have also provided protection and leaked evidence regarding criminal investigations. The have violated their oaths of office and disgraced their departments.”

Sheriff McMul-len said he had no knowledge of any wrongdoing at the lodge.

“I never would have been a member if that was going on,” McMullen said. “I have never seen anyone paid out illegally.”

The illegal payouts were believed to have been instigated by a secret button on the side of the machine which alerted the bartender to a potential winner.

McMullen said those buttons were not for illegal purposes, to his knowledge.

“Those buttons are there, but they just let the bartender know you want a drink,” McMullen said. “I don’t think they were used to break the law.”

Burns said the video surveillance appeared to show otherwise.

Burns did not want this investigation to indict the entire membership of the Elks Lodge or all law enforcement personnel.

“There are many good Elks members and many fine police officers who risk their lives daily for our protection,” Burns said in his press release. “It is a shame when a few bad officers taint the badge. Corruption will not be tolerated.”

This is not the first problems with illegal gambling at the Chickasha Elks Lodge. A similar investigation was completed in 1995. Machines, like the eight seized Wednesday night, have been in use at the lodge for decades.