{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-44-44-111","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 44, § 44-111","heading":"Public property - Liability of commanding officer -","body":"Liability of person responsible for loss, damage or destruction -\n\nApprehension and prosecution of persons absconding.\n\n(a) The officer in permanent or temporary command of a station\n\nis responsible for the security of all public property of the\n\ncommand, whether in use or in store, and although for purposes of\n\nperiodical accountability to general headquarters, it may all have\n\nbeen officially accepted and receipted for by subordinate officers,\n\nthe commanding officer is nevertheless responsible and pecuniarily\n\nliable with them for the strict observance of the regulations in\n\nregard to its preservation, use and issue. He will take care that\n\nall storehouses are properly guarded, that only reliable agents are\n\nemployed, and only trustworthy enlisted men are detailed for duty in\n\nthem or in connection with the property.\n\n(b) A company or detachment commander is responsible for all\n\npublic property pertaining to his company or detachment and will not\n\ntransfer his accountability therefor to a successor during periods\n\nof absence of less than thirty (30) days, unless ordered by\n\ncompetent authority, when such absence exceeds thirty (30) days, the\n\nquestion of responsibility is settled by the proper authority.\n\n(c) The officer in temporary or permanent command of a company\n\nor detachment is responsible for all public property used by, or in\n\npossession of the command, whether he receipts for it or not.\n\n(d) The property responsibility of a company commander cannot\n\nbe transferred to enlisted men. It is his duty to attend personally\n\nto its security, and to superintend issue himself, or cause to be\n\nsuperintended by a commissioned officer.\n\n(e) A transfer of public property involves a change of\n\npossession and accountability. The transferring officer will\n\nfurnish the receiving officer with invoices, in duplicate,\n\naccurately enumerating the property and the latter will return\n\nduplicate receipts. The transaction will appear on the property\n\nreturns rendered by such.\n\n(f) The giving or taking of receipts in blank for public\n\nproperty is prohibited. Officers are cautioned against the signing\n\nof receipts for property without an actual physical count of such\n\nproperty. A relief at some future time for a shortage caused by\n\nfailure to exercise such precaution will not be favorably\n\nconsidered.\n\n(g) An officer in charge of public property in use or in store\n\nwill endeavor by timely repairs to keep it in serviceable condition.\n\n(h) Officers responsible for property will be charged for any\n\ndamage to or loss or destruction of the same, unless they show to\n\nthe satisfaction of the Adjutant General, by proper evidence, that\n\nthe damage, loss, or destruction was occasioned by unavoidable\n\ncauses, and without fault or neglect on their part.\n\n(i) If an article of public property be lost or damaged by the\n\nneglect or fault of any officer or soldier, he shall be subject to\n\npay for the value thereof or the cost of repairs, in a sum to be\n\ndetermined by the proper authority, upon the demand of the Adjutant\n\nGeneral.\n\n(j) The amount charged against an enlisted man on the muster\n\nand payrolls on account of loss or damage to, or repairs to military\n\nproperty shall not exceed the value of the article or cost of\n\nrepairs; and such charge will only be made on conclusive proof, and\n\nnever without an inquiry if the soldier demands it.\n\n(k) The Adjutant General is authorized to pay from the funds\n\nappropriated to the Military Department for operating expenses the\n\nexpenses necessary for the apprehension and prosecution of any\n\nperson absconding with property belonging either to the state or\n\nUnited States; provided, such person is without the confines of this\n\nstate.","path":["OK Code","Title 44"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os44.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"bd243c02392121d1a724366ddc0164ce4a7b5e4918612d094ee6b5164e932ba6","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-44-44-1","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-44-44-112"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}