Okla. Stat. tit. 19, § 19-527: Employment of legal counsel authorized

A. The sheriff, treasurer or assessor in a county shall have

the authority to employ a general counsel, either in-house as a

staff attorney or through an outside law firm, to advise or

represent that officer and his or her office in the performance of

the official duties of that office. The Board of County

Commissioners shall approve all contracts for outside counsel. A

general counsel employed pursuant to this section shall be

compensated from the funds of the employing county office.

B. The sheriff may employ outside counsel pursuant to this

section to provide immediate representation to a deputy of the

sheriff in a deputy-involved shooting incident; provided, the

sheriff shall not continue payment to the counsel if the deputy

involved is charged with any crime arising from the incident.