Interim sheriff was asked to investigate leaked 2009 memo

The grand jury pointed to a 2009 report on Bates which indicated supervising officers were concerned by his conduct but were pressured to let it go by Glanz and other commanders.

Glanz resigned shortly after and Weigel said he took over as interim sheriff Thursday morning.

Glanz, who plans to step down before a November 10 hearing in the case, said in a statement that he had always tried to be transparent and make good decisions during his 27 years as sheriff.

In April, Tulsa County reserve deputy Robert Bates, 74, was charged with a second-degree manslaughter charge after fatally shooting Eric Courtney Harris with a gun, mistaking it for a Taser.

The sheriff’s office had repeatedly denied the existence of the 2009 memo before it was released by an attorney for the Harris family after the April shooting.

Neither Weigel nor Glanz returned a message seeking comment Wednesday.

Acknowledging a setback in regard to public confidence and perception in the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, Undersheriff Richard Weigel said changes will be made. Bates is an insurance broker who worked briefly as a police officer in the 1960s, helped the sheriff become re-elected and donated expensive equipment to Glanz’s office, including vehicles. When Governor Mary Fallin received the letter, she will decide if there will be a special election to replace the sheriff.

“What it comes down to is a straight interpretation of what the state law says about this”, Willis said.

We’re pleased that investigators were able to circumvent the sheriff’s obstructions and hold him accountable for his actions instead of blaming the victim. “We don’t know if his resignation will placate them”.

He also acknowledged the jury made eight recommendations for improving the sheriff’s office.

Jurors called for better accountability of field training hours and suggested that the office’s internal affairs department be more autonomous.