The No. 2 official in the Tulsa, Oklahoma sheriff’s office resigned on Monday after documents were released accusing him of intimidating employees to promote a white reserve deputy who later killed an unarmed black man, according to the Tulsa World newspaper.
Undersheriff Tim Albin’s resignation, which will be effective at the end of the week, was announced by Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz during a board of commissioners meeting, the newspaper reported.
“Given the gravity of the current situation … he agreed that maybe it’s time for a change,” Glanz said. “I will continue to examine my organization, and there will be more changes in the coming days as I work to restore the integrity to the Sheriff’s Office which the public has come to expect.”
The reserve deputy in question, Robert Bates, fatally shot the unarmed black man, Eric Harris, on April 2 when, according to the deputy, he mistook his gun for his Taser. Bates was charged with second-degree manslaughter and pleaded not guilty.
The report contained the findings of a “special investigation” in 2009 that was ordered over allegations that Bates was improperly trained and that his certifications were falsified, the Tulsa World reported.
Bates was given special treatment, according to the report, and high-ranking officials violated policy to ensure that Bates advanced within the deputy reserve program.
Attorneys for Bates have disputed the allegations about his training and role in the agency.
A crack in the Thin Blue Line of Tulsa County
Backlash is a bitch ain’t it?
jw1
Tick…tick…tick, motherfuckers. Tick…tick…tick.
And if the heads of these police departments would just come right out and denounce these actions and fire some people, they would be national heroes. But they are going to keep on defending the indefensible, and they will pay dearly for that.
Next question… how many other people in that department are improperly promoted or improperly there at all?
What are the chances there was just that one?
“Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial
diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric
light the most efficient policeman.” -US Supreme Court Justice, Louis D Brandeis