Tulsa county commissioners voted unanimously Monday to award a $75,000, five-month contract to a Texas-based company that will conduct a review of the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office after a reserve deputy shot an unarmed suspect.
Robert Bates fatally shot Eric Harris April 2 while officers restrained him. Bates pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter charges, and says he confused his pistol with his Taser.
Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz wanted the suburban Dallas-based Community Safety Institute to conduct a separate pay and manpower study before the shooting. Hetold the Tulsa World’s Jarrel Wade he hopes the performance audit will fix the troubled agency.
"I'm sure they'll look at what I've done and some of the decisions I've made and how we handled the latest tragic incident that occurred," Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz said. "I want them to look at the agency in whole." … Glanz said the original intent was to have the group come to do a study that focused on deputy salary. "Originally that was my concept, but since this incident occurred — this tragic incident — I think they can help me look at it and how we handled it and make recommendations," Glanz said.
Several top sheriff’s deputies left the department following Harris’ death, and Glanz has announced he does not plan to seek reelection next year.
CSI’s performance audit of the TCSO will look at policies, procedures, and training regarding the use of force, as well as the Reserve Deputy Officer program. Auditors will also determine how best to communicate information to the public.
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