DHS shelter director retires rather than fight termination

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The longtime director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services shelter in Oklahoma City is retiring instead of fighting termination over the handcuffing of children.

The Oklahoman newspaper reports Rebecca L. Price resigned by letter Tuesday. She had worked for DHS since 1984 and been director of the Pauline E. Mayer Shelter since 2010.

Agency officials suspended Price with pay on April 17 and replaced two off-duty, armed law enforcement officers who had allegedly handcuffed children and threatened them with pepper spray and stun weapons.

An oversight agency found that nine children had been placed in handcuffs by the two off-duty officers since Nov. 1, 2014. In addition, the commission found that children were threatened with use of pepper spray and stun guns.