Tulsa Sheriff limits volunteer deputies’ duties

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – An Oklahoma sheriff is temporarily prohibiting volunteer deputies from patrolling alone following the fatal shooting of an unarmed man.

Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Shannon Clark said Thursday that the office is auditing the training records of its approximately 130 reserve deputies. The review follows the release of internal memos indicating that officers were worried that some of reserve deputy Robert Bates’ training records were falsified.

Bates has pleaded not guilty to a manslaughter charge in the April 2 killing of Eric Harris.

Clark says advanced reserves can no longer patrol alone but will participate in other law enforcement work. Most of the force’s volunteers have advanced status.

Clark says the office isn’t working on a timeline and that the review will be thorough.