With the fatal shooting of a suspect by a reserve Tulsa County deputy, the national attention has resulted in mix-ups with some media confusing the sheriff’s office with the Tulsa Police Department. Mayor Dewey Bartlett wants everyone to know they are separate agencies, and police had nothing to do with the sting operation that ended with the shooting. He says there have been several calls to his office from people, including national media, thinking it is a police officer involved and not realizing the difference between the two departments.
The Mayor says reserve police officers are used for crowd control, traffic control, and the like and would not be put in a position of support for an undercover sting operation like the one involving the reserve deputy.
