Every sheriff’s office in Oklahoma just got a serious cash infusion.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced Monday that his office is sending $18 million in grants to county sheriff’s offices across the state, cutting checks for all 77 counties. The awards are tiered between $150,000 and $300,000 and are earmarked for sheriff’s office operations such as training, technology, equipment, capital improvements and one-time stipends. The grant program was created by the Legislature in 2024 and funded through this year’s state budget.
As reported by KTUL, Drummond said, “Rural sheriff’s offices are stretched thin, and this funding gives them real resources to serve their communities.” He also thanked the Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association and county sheriffs for partnering with his office to put the money to work.
How the grants are distributed
The grants are allocated using each county’s assessed total tangible property valuation and fall into three tiers: 26 counties receive $150,000, 26 receive $250,000 and 25 receive $300,000. Those mechanics and the list of eligible uses are detailed by the Oklahoma Attorney General's office. Lawmakers created the program in House Bill 2914, and the accompanying bill summary outlines the tier structure, the overall appropriation and application limits.
Sheriffs say they'll spend it on safety gear
Some counties already have plans in motion. Oklahoma County officials told KOCO their $300,000 award will go toward ballistic shields, helmets and other safety equipment. Smaller counties have reported plans to put their grants toward maintenance, vehicle work or technology upgrades.
Rules, limits and reporting
The money comes with strings attached. “Funds may not be used for the payment of salary,” the Attorney General’s grant page states, and counties are prohibited from using the new dollars to replace existing local funding. Recipients must file semiannual expenditure reports, and the money is routed to the county fiscal officer as required by statute. The Attorney General’s site and the HB 2914 summary also spell out expenditure deadlines and how counties can request modifications.
The Attorney General’s office has published a county-by-county list of award amounts and related documentation. Local coverage of the rollout, including links to those official materials, is available from KTUL.
