Okla. Stat. tit. 19, § 19-528: Authority to employ attorney

Upon the recommendation of the Attorney General, the sheriff of

any county shall have the authority to employ an attorney to

represent the sheriff and the office of the sheriff in the

performance of the official duties of that office. The authority to

employ an attorney shall be limited to those situations or cases

where the district attorney of the same county as the sheriff has

been disqualified or removed from the case. The fees for employing

an attorney may be paid from unrestricted funds within the budget of

the sheriff or the sheriff may request that the budget authority of

the county appropriate funds from the county general fund, if such

funds are available, for the purpose of paying such fees.