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Deputy who killed man after mistaking gun for Taser is an insurance exec who pays to play cop
The Reserve Tulsa County Sheriffâs deputy whofatally shot and killed a man last week when he thought he had pulled his Taser, is part of a group of wealthy donors who make large contributions to the department for the privilege of playing police officer.
According to Tulsa World, Robert Bates, 73, who made the fatal mistake that cost a man his life, is a local insurance company executive who has donated multiple vehicles, weapons, and stun guns to the Sheriffâs Office since becoming a reserve deputy in 2008.
Bates is responsible for the death of Eric Harris, when he attempted to assist in the arrest of Harris as he struggled on the ground with Tulsa sheriffâs deputies. Bates shot Harris with his service weapon believing he had pulled his Taser.
In video released Friday, Bates can be heard apologizing, saying âIâm sorry, Iâm sorry,â as police handcuffed Harris before he was taken to a local hospital where he died from his gunshot wound.
According to Maj. Shannon Clark, Bates is a highly regarded member of the Reserve Deputy Program who was assisting the Sheriffâs Officeâs Violent Crimes Task Force when Harris was shot.
Clark stated that Bates is one of many wealthy donors among the agencyâs 130 reserve deputies, saying, âThere are lots of wealthy people in the reserve program. Many of them make donations of items. Thatâs not unusual at all.â
On Monday, the Sheriffâs Office deferred questions to the county commissionersâ office when asked for a list of items Bates had donated, including his own service weapon and Taser.
Bates, who served as a Tulsa police officer for one year in 1964, is not compensated for his time assisting the sheriffâs deputies, and is classified as an âadvanced reserve,â meaning he âcan do anything a full-time deputy can do,â explained Clark.
âAlthough he had training and experience for the arrest team, heâs not assigned to the arrest team,â Clark said of Batesâ role assisting the task force. âHe came to render aid during the altercation, but heâs in a support role during the operation. That means keeping notes, doing counter-surveillance, things like that.â
Following 320 hours of training with CLEET (the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training) as well as have completed 480 hours of the TCSO Field Training Officer Program, an âadvancedâ reserve can âperform normal field duties by themselves and without the direct supervision of a certified deputyâ according to the training program
The Tulsa Police Depart also utilizes reserves, however the approximately 55 reserve officers are typically limited to working traffic control or parking lot patrols during âSafe Shopperâ operations during the holiday shopping seasons.
The Tulsa County District Attorneyâs Office has yet to decide whether they will press charges against Bates.
The Reserve Tulsa County Sheriffâs deputy whofatally shot and killed a man last week when he thought he had pulled his Taser, is part of a group of wealthy donors who make large contributions to the department for the privilege of playing police officer.
According to Tulsa World, Robert Bates, 73, who made the fatal mistake that cost a man his life, is a local insurance company executive who has donated multiple vehicles, weapons, and stun guns to the Sheriffâs Office since becoming a reserve deputy in 2008.
Bates is responsible for the death of Eric Harris, when he attempted to assist in the arrest of Harris as he struggled on the ground with Tulsa sheriffâs deputies. Bates shot Harris with his service weapon believing he had pulled his Taser.
In video released Friday, Bates can be heard apologizing, saying âIâm sorry, Iâm sorry,â as police handcuffed Harris before he was taken to a local hospital where he died from his gunshot wound.
According to Maj. Shannon Clark, Bates is a highly regarded member of the Reserve Deputy Program who was assisting the Sheriffâs Officeâs Violent Crimes Task Force when Harris was shot.
Clark stated that Bates is one of many wealthy donors among the agencyâs 130 reserve deputies, saying, âThere are lots of wealthy people in the reserve program. Many of them make donations of items. Thatâs not unusual at all.â
On Monday, the Sheriffâs Office deferred questions to the county commissionersâ office when asked for a list of items Bates had donated, including his own service weapon and Taser.
Bates, who served as a Tulsa police officer for one year in 1964, is not compensated for his time assisting the sheriffâs deputies, and is classified as an âadvanced reserve,â meaning he âcan do anything a full-time deputy can do,â explained Clark.
âAlthough he had training and experience for the arrest team, heâs not assigned to the arrest team,â Clark said of Batesâ role assisting the task force. âHe came to render aid during the altercation, but heâs in a support role during the operation. That means keeping notes, doing counter-surveillance, things like that.â
Following 320 hours of training with CLEET (the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training) as well as have completed 480 hours of the TCSO Field Training Officer Program, an âadvancedâ reserve can âperform normal field duties by themselves and without the direct supervision of a certified deputyâ according to the training program
The Tulsa Police Depart also utilizes reserves, however the approximately 55 reserve officers are typically limited to working traffic control or parking lot patrols during âSafe Shopperâ operations during the holiday shopping seasons.
The Tulsa County District Attorneyâs Office has yet to decide whether they will press charges against Bates.
