Former Tulsa police officer Betty Shelby is now Rogers County Reserve Deputy Betty Shelby.
Shelby was sworn in Thursday at the Rogers County Courthouse.
"I will continue to serve the great state of Oklahoma and strive to improve the relationships between law enforcement agencies, organizations and our community through education and community involvement," Shelby said.
Shelby returned to TPD at a desk job in May after being acquitted of manslaughter in the on-duty shooting of Terence Crutcher.
Shelby decided to resign in July because her new desk job made her feel isolated. Sheriff Scott Walton said Shelby worried how she’d be received in Rogers County.
"With the messages, phone calls that we've received, this community and this area of law enforcement supports Betty in all ways," Walton said.
Walton has been critical of the way Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan and District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler handled Shelby's case. Walton was a vocal supporter of Shelby during her trial and said that’s because he felt he couldn’t stay silent on a broader issue.
"When officers are so scrutinized in the use of deadly force that they draw back and wait and hesitate and overthink situations, in turn get themselves killed, we've taken away not only their protection, but we've taken away their ability to protect the people that we are sworn to protect," Walton said.
Walton says bringing Shelby on as a reserve isn’t a publicity stunt and that she reached out to him. He said she's going through the same hiring process anyone else would.
Shelby’s reserve status will allow her to continue speaking to law enforcement groups about her experience. She could become a full-time deputy in the future.
