Table of Contents
A city manager facing multiple felony charges for allegedly embezzling from other municipalities is currently running Pawhuska, Oklahoma, and city officials don't want to talk about it. When confronted with basic questions about Jerry Eubanks' criminal charges and recent controversial personnel decisions, city employees scrambled to avoid cameras and refused to provide public records during normal business hours.
The Convicted Manager They Hired Back
Jerry Eubanks is serving his second stint as Pawhuska's city manager, despite being charged with felonies in two separate counties for an elaborate equipment theft scheme. According to the allegations, Eubanks would have one city purchase expensive equipment worth tens of thousands of dollars. When he moved to manage a different city, the equipment would mysteriously follow him. Then Eubanks would arrange for his new city to purchase the same equipment from him personally, essentially stealing public assets and reselling them back to taxpayers.
This isn't Eubanks' first departure from Pawhuska either. He previously resigned and "ran out of town" according to local sources, only to be rehired after his criminal charges became public. The city council's decision to bring back a manager facing active felony prosecution has residents questioning their leadership's judgment.
The Police Chief Purge
Since returning to power, Eubanks has systematically dismantled the police department. He fired Police Chief Lori Hennessy, who had served the community for six years and was well-regarded by residents. Multiple officers have also been terminated, leaving the department understaffed and demoralized.
Local sources suggest Eubanks was brought back specifically to remove Chief Hennessy, though the reasons remain unclear. Questions about unpaid pension money owed to the former chief went unanswered when city officials were asked directly.
Assistant City Manager's Hostile Reception
When a journalist arrived at city hall during normal business hours to request public records, Assistant City Manager Carol immediately became defensive and hostile. Rather than simply answering questions about her employment or facilitating the records request as required by law, she called for police assistance.
The interaction revealed a troubling pattern of transparency avoidance. Carol refused to answer basic questions about whether she uses a city-issued phone or personal device for official business, claiming such information was somehow confidential. Her aggressive response to routine inquiries suggests an administration with much to hide.
The Records Request Runaround
Oklahoma's Open Records Act requires cities to have records available during regular business hours, but Pawhuska officials seemed unprepared for this basic legal obligation. Staff claimed they couldn't locate the city clerk, despite it being during normal operating hours.
When the city clerk Sandy was finally found, she was preparing to enter a closed meeting rather than fulfilling her legal duty to process records requests. The journalist requested meeting minutes and agendas from the past 24 months, along with communications between city officials and documentation related to the city manager's activities.
Council Corruption Allegations Surface
Beyond the city manager's legal troubles, questions are emerging about potential conflicts of interest involving city council members. Sources indicate that one council member owns a gas station that began receiving city business only after they joined the council, raising obvious ethical concerns about self-dealing.
The investigation also uncovered allegations of personal scandals involving Mayor Susan Barrow's husband and a tribal employee named Whitney Hudson, though the extent of any city government involvement in these matters remains unclear.
What the Video Reveals Next
The most shocking moment captured on camera involves Acting Police Chief Kenneth Traml, who may have his own troubled history. Reports suggest he left his previous position in Okfuskee County under suspicious circumstances related to embezzlement allegations, though confirmation is still pending.
But the investigation took an even stranger turn when sources revealed that City Manager Eubanks was witnessed making inappropriate sexual comments to a police officer. The footage of this incident exists, but the full context and implications won't be clear until the complete video evidence is reviewed.
Watch the full investigation to see how deep Pawhuska's corruption goes and whether officials will finally be held accountable.
