EX-OFFICER'S DRUG CHARGES DROPPED

BRISTOW -- The case against a former Kiefer police officer charged
with stealing drugs from the department's property room was dismissed
Wednesday.

David Palmerchuk, 33, maintained his innocence since his arrest in
April on charges of embezzlement by an officer.

He said he was framed by former Police Chief David Little, 30, who
reported to the Creek County sheriff's office that drugs were missing.

During the investigation, Little admitted to authorities that he had
stolen and used drugs from the Kiefer and Mounds police departments.
Little and a Kiefer police dispatcher implicated Palmerchuk, who
earlier had resigned.

The case against Little is pending.

Palmerchuk said he resigned from Kiefer in March after a dispute with
Little and after he reported to town board members that he suspected
Little of using drugs.

"I won't rest until I clear my name," Palmerchuk said in April. He
said his 10-plus years in law enforcement could be ruined because of
the accusations.

Palmerchuk was an officer with the McAlester Police Department for
seven years before resigning to work in a restaurant business. He
worked with the DARE program in McAlester and had collected money from
Kiefer-area businesses to support the drug awareness program there.