Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater says the county commission's creation of a new county jail citizen's commission was a correct call and he especially supports the idea that no elected officials will be on it.
   "You don't need elected officials on there," said Prater in response to the creation of the Oklahoma County Detention Advisory Committee. "I think that it would be a bunch of grandstanding and politicizing of the issues." 
   Prater said too many times elected officials grandstand and "beat their chests when they get in front of a camera." 
   "This needs to be citizens and people who have a stake with their own money and their own safety in this community," added Prater.
   Nine persons will be named to the commission and Prater said there is nothing wrong with the public scrutiny of county operations. "If there is concern about how we're spending that money or operating our office, I don't mind public oversight."
   As far as the jail operations were concerned, Prater said Sheriff John Whetsel's not been the only sheriff to face serious problems.  "It was antiquated when it opened. It was overcrowded when it opened so he and other sheriffs have had a tough situation running that albatross for a long time unfortunately."