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Tulsa County Undersheriff Resigns After Report Surfaces On Reserve Deputy Robert Bates

Tulsa County Undersheriff Tim Albin at the 2014 groundbreaking of a new law enforcement training center.
Matt Trotter
/
KWGS Public Radio Tulsa
Tulsa County Undersheriff Tim Albin at the 2014 groundbreaking of a new law enforcement training center.

The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office announced the resignation Monday morning of an undersheriff at the center of an investigation into the conduct and treatment of a reserve deputy who shot and killed a restrained suspect earlier this month.

In a statement Monday morning, Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz said given the gravity of the current situation, he and Undersheriff Tim Albin agreed to a change in leadership and direction for the sheriff’s office.

“I will continue to examine my organization and there will be more changes in the coming days as I work to restore the integrity to the Sheriff’s Office which the public has come to expect over the years I have been Sheriff,” Glanz said in a statement.

KWGS Public Radio Tulsa reports the announcement came at Monday’s meeting of the Tulsa County Commission.

TCSO Reserve Deputy Robert Bates faces second-degree manslaughter charges in the April 2 death of Eric Harris, who was shot and killed while being restrained by officers after fleeing an undercover sting operation. Bates reportedly mistook his handgun for his Taser.

Albin oversaw the TSCO’s Internal Affairs unit, which has been criticized in recent days after a report surfaced outlining a 2009 investigation into the conduct of Bates. The 73-year-old insurance executive reportedly made unauthorized traffic stops in his personal vehicle, and received special treatment once he was admitted to the deputy program.

Albin is a 26-year veteran of the Tulsa County Sheriff’s office, and has served as the Undersheriff since 2012.

Brian Hardzinski is from Flower Mound, Texas and a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. He began his career at KGOU as a student intern, joining KGOU full time in 2009 as Operations and Public Service Announcement Director. He began regularly hosting Morning Edition in 2014, and became the station's first Digital News Editor in 2015-16. Brian’s work at KGOU has been honored by Public Radio News Directors Incorporated (PRNDI), the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters, the Oklahoma Associated Press Broadcasters, and local and regional chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists. Brian enjoys competing in triathlons, distance running, playing tennis, and entertaining his rambunctious Boston Terrier, Bucky.
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