I guess prison safe rooms in Oklahoma aren’t very safe!
Well, at least they aren’t when Steve Harpe – the stumbling, bumbling, and perfect embodiment of the Stitt administration – is inside of one.
Earlier this week, Harpe – the Director of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections – accidentally discharged a firearm while alone in a safe room and, I assume, playing a pretend game of fast-draw with his reflection in the mirror.
Representative J.J. Humphrey, R-Lane, is asking for the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (ODOC), Steven Harpe, to be investigated after he accidentally discharged a firearm inside the safe room at the ODOC headquarters last week.
The ODOC told KFOR Harpe got a gun from the safe and accidentally fired it Friday afternoon. The bullet hit the concrete floor.
Yep, nothing to see here. Move along. We just have the IT guy who’s ridden Stitt’s coattails from the cubicles of Gateway Mortgage to the non-elected heights of State Government accidentally firing a gun while hanging out in a prison. Obviously, he shouldn’t be held accountable, and no further questions or investigations should take place.
Here’s what the ODOC – the agency Harpe is in charge of – had to say about it:
Late on Friday, Jan. 19, while in the safe room, Director Steven Harpe accidentally discharged his firearm into the concrete floor. The damage to the floor is minimal, and the round did not penetrate the floor. No one else was present. The director immediately reported it to ODOC's law enforcement division. As per policy, Dir. Harpe is scheduled for remedial firearms training and will requalify. ODOC has handled this situation as it would with any employee.
See? Everything's fine! There was no penetration related to the discharge, and Dir. Harpe is being sent to remedial firearms training. You know, just like he probably was for math in high school.
Also – in case you weren't aware – these types of accidental discharges happen all the time!
Accidental discharges are not uncommon among law enforcement. Since mid-2022, ODOC staff have been involved in nine accidental discharge incidents. Only one resulted in discipline; however, it was due to policy violations and not the discharge itself.
I’m not going to lie – I had no clue that “accidental discharges” were that common! They may want to start taking some herbal supplements to help with that.
Out of all the Stitt cronies working in state government, it's not a big shock that Harpe is the first being sent to remedial training.
In fact, I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner!
Remember when he – the guy who oversaw state cyber security while at OMES – was duped by Facebook Copypasta?
I have no clue if he was sent to remedial common sense training after that, but he probably should have been.
Anyway, I don't know when Harpe is set to begin remedial training – or if it will be postponed by a planned Caribbean vacation – but I'd like to warn all of his instructors to watch out for accidental discharges.
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We'll keep you advised.
