Questions surface about Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office

Whether supervisors of a Tulsa County volunteer deputy charged in the death of an unarmed suspect will also face charges depend on whether their alleged offenses are criminal or just the result of poor management.

Questions about management of reserve deputies at the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office have surfaced since 73-year-old reserve deputy Robert Bates fatally shot Eric Harris on April 2nd. Bates is charged with second-degree manslaughter. He says he confused his stun gun with his handgun.

Attorneys for Harris’ family have since released memos from 2009 that indicate office administrators were silencing criticisms of Bates. District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler says an outside review is warranted and that an agency is investigating the Sheriff’s Office. But it’s unclear what agency that is or what charges could be filed.