EDUCATION

Oklahoma corrections director resigns

Tim Willert, Darla Slipke and Carmen Forman
Joe M. Allbaugh. [Doug Hoke/The Oklahoman]

Oklahoma Department of Corrections Director Joe Allbaugh abruptly resigned Wednesday.

Allbaugh, who announced his plans to retire during an Oklahoma Board of Corrections meeting, said his resignation was effective immediately.

"For the last three years, five months and four days I've had the honor of leading this organization," he said. "Rightly or wrongly, it's been a challenge. But as the Good Book says, every season has its time."

Allbaugh asked to address the board and left immediately following his remarks. He wished panel members well and called Department of Corrections staff the most dedicated people he's worked with.

"They are the subject matter experts," he said. "Please do not become the Legislature and treat them like second-class citizens."

His resignation appears to stem from growing friction with the board, which was overhauled this year under legislation that granted Gov. Kevin Stitt additional power over the Department of Corrections.

"They (the board) have a different set of ideas than I do," Allbaugh said.

Steven Harpe, who was appointed by Stitt and elected board chairman Wednesday, said the resignation was a surprise.

"We've had some correspondence and a few conversations prior to today and there was nothing indicating that he was ready to turn a new chapter in his life," Harpe said.

About possible friction, Harpe said: "There's nothing here where people are trying to cause any undue stress on Allbaugh or any of the employees. As a matter of fact, I would say from talking with several board members, we're entirely impressed with the DOC."

Stitt, who was asked about Allbaugh's departure after an unrelated news conference Wednesday, hinted that Allbaugh may have been put off by increased scrutiny from the governor's appointments to the board of corrections.

In April, Stitt tapped five people to serve as a majority on the nine-member board. Stitt indicated those new members may have sparked friction between the board and Allbaugh.

"He’s got to work with his board and he’s got to be willing to answer tough questions and he’s got to be able to be accountable to them because they are coming in and getting into the weeds and digging into the details," Stitt said. "Sometimes, that’s uncomfortable if you haven’t had that type of oversight before."

Stitt had the power to appoint the five board members due to legislation he signed in April expanding the governor's power over some major state agencies. The legislation also granted Stitt the power to hire and fire the corrections director.

The governor said he had re-interviewed Allbaugh for the job, although he did not say whether he also had interviewed other candidates. Stitt said he did not ask Allbaugh to resign.

Scott Crow, chief of operations for the Department of Corrections, will serve as interim director, effective immediately. Secretary of Public Safety Chip Keating announced the news to board members Wednesday afternoon on behalf of Stitt.

"This is unexpected, but we will have a smooth transition," Keating said.

Crow, who started with the department in 1996 as a special investigator supervisor, also expressed surprised at Allbaugh's abrupt resignation.

"I'm just as surprised as anyone else," he said. "We're going to continue moving forward in the direction that we have in a positive manner."