Sallisaw Police Chief pleads not guilty to embezzlement

The Sallisaw Police Chief is in hot water over the use of department's petty cash drawer. Chief Shaloa Edwards was in court yesterday and pleaded not guilty to embezzlement after being charged with the offense for leaving an I-O-U for $60 in the police department's petty cash drawer. The Chief later returned the funds and retrieved the I-O-U but city officials say that's not kosher. The funds are for employee expenses, not personal use. A conviction carries a jail term of up to one year and/or a $1000.00 fine. Edwards has also filed  a civil lawsuit after the Sallisaw City Commission amended part of its charter to allow the City Manager to temporarily assume  supervision of the police department. Calls to Edwards' lawyer for a response have been unsuccessful.