Oklahoma County Jail Trust names OCDC Acting Jail Director

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — After weeks of uncertainty, new leadership has been announced for the Oklahoma County Detention Center.

After a closed-door executive session, the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority, known as the Jail Trust, announced Paul Timmons as the new acting jail director.

This comes just days after former CEO Brandi Garner's resignation took effect.

Timmons brings decades of leadership and law enforcement experience to this role.

He served as the jail's chief of personnel and administration and previously worked as chief of investigations. Before joining the detention center, he spent decades with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

"I know about the challenges that the jail faces and, you know, I'm not going to run from those challenges. We're going to try and adjust those challenges day by day and just try to make it better over there than what it has been in the past or what people think that they know about the jail," said Timmons.

Moving forward, Timmons says his focus will be on accountability and structure.

For many attendees at the meeting, the concern wasn't who takes over, but whether any new leadership could fix a system they say is broken beyond repair.

"You have failed in three years, 54 deaths that is all that needs to be said," said Mark Faulk, People's Council for Justice Reform.

Some say it's time to hand control back to the sheriff's office.

"Mr. Sheriff Johnson, we need you man, we need you, this is a dumpster fire, this is a joke," said Christopher Johnston, attended meeting.

Others pushing for reform, inside the jail.

"I have been in that jail probably over 30 times. I know what it's like, I'm scared every time I go to that jail," said Timothy Jones, attended meeting.

Vice chairperson for the Jail Trust Steven Buck says he acknowledges the concerns.

"We've got a long way to go. I demand excellence, we're not excellent yet by any means, but we're going to work in that direction," said Buck

While Timmons serves as acting jail director, the search for a permanent replacement will continue.

The Jail Trust approved up to $50,000 to be used for a nationwide search firm to take over.