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Report: OK County Jail leadership has private, honest discussion about Covid

12:48 PM EST on February 10, 2022

Earlier this week, Mr. William P.H. Rutherford "Trois" Savage the III with Non Doc dropped a shock-rage story about the guy who runs the Oklahoma County Jail hellhole – Greg Williams – apparently "praising the pandemic."

I guess Williams called someone and left a voicemail, but being the sharp cat that he is, forgot to hang up the phone.

He then proceeded to have a candid, unguarded, and very recorded conversation with former KOCO attaboy Mark Opergrande – the jail's PR hack – about COVID and other jail stuff. Whoever he left the message for then leaked it to Non Doc, and, well, here we are.

I listened to the full audio of the conversation and my two takeaways were this:

1.  Just like everyone else, people who run the jail are human and use Covid as an excuse to get out of doing things they don't want to do.

2. Just like everyone else, people who run the jail are human and also have private, honest, and extremely unguarded conversations about COVID and – GASP! – make light of it.

Humans doing and saying human things in what was intended to be a private conversation did not sit well with the Non Doc squares.

Looking to capitalize on some good old fashion Oklahoma County jail-related "Gotchya!" hatebait, the funnels not filters took every word of the inadvertently recorded audio, interpreted it as literally as possible, and quickly threw together one of its patently stodgy stories about it.

Via Non Doc:

A voicemail recording obtained by NonDoc features Oklahoma County Jail chief administrator Greg Williams and director of communications Mark Opgrande calling the COVID-19 pandemic “the greatest thing that has ever happened to us” and “a built-in excuse” to keep media and other visitors out of the troubled jail.

“I mean, COVID has been wonderful for us,” Williams says in the voicemail, noting that the jail received $10 million in CARES Act funding for projects completed last year.

First of all, I must say I'm very relieved to learn that I'm not the only person who uses Covid as "a built-in excuse" to get out of doing stuff that I don't want to do. Sure, I still usually use my kid as the primary "Sorry, can't make it" excuse, but Covid is always a solid second option:

"Hey there, I'm not sure I'll be able to make it over. I have some sniffles and I'm not sure if it's Covid or allergies."

"Hey-hey-hey, don't worry about it. We'll just connect in a few weeks. Stay well."

Seriously, whether you're using it as an excuse to keep French journalists away from the jail, or a reason to bail on a lunch appointment, there's nothing wrong with using Covid as an excuse to not do something.

"But Patrick! The jail guy said COVID is the greatest thing that has ever happened to us! It's never been more popular to hate on the shithole jail's leadership and you've made a living going after people like Stitt for the way they handled the pandemic. What are you doing?!"

I know, I know, it's really cool, especially on the fringe left, to hate the people who run the Oklahoma County Jail hellhole and cheer for them to slip up and fail. And yes, I've been known to criticize an Oklahoma politician or civilian or 10 for things they've said and done during the pandemic.

That being said, I didn't really think what they said was all that malicious. They weren't on record and sharing their official views on Covid. I simply heard two dudes having an honest, informal and, at time, very misinformed conversation about Covid that reminded me of conversations I've occasionally had with other people about Covid. You know, like a Joe Rogan Podcast.

Just take this snippet:

"It’s given us $10 million,” Williams says. “I mean, COVID has been wonderful for us.”

Opgrande then mentions even more money that might be coming from ARPA funds.

“And maybe give us another $150 million,” Opgrande said. “I mean, that would be the best thing that would happen out of this.”

Williams agrees.

“I know it,” Williams says. “COVID is our friend.”

Okay, it does kind of sound bad when you read a snippet out of context, but the takeaway is different when you listen to it. Plus, there's some truth to what he said. Even if it's the result of a global tragedy that's killed millions of people, it's hard not to call something your friend if can get you $150-million

"Whatever Patrick! You're just jealous that Non Doc broke than clickbaity story!"

Okay, that could be true, but I would have had more fun with it.

Anyway, you can read and get mad about the whole story at Non Doc if you want to, or you can listen to the audio below. It's up to you. Stay with The Lost Ogle. We'll keep you advised.

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