The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

This from KTUL...

Theft Accusations Inside Police Department Creates Tension Among Officers
Tuesday April 24, 2007 9:39pm   Reporter: Yvonne Harris    
 
 
Tulsa - There is tension among Tulsa's police officers and it could be getting worse. Black officers claim there are problems with the department's discipline. That's because a white officer remains on duty after being accused of theft. NewsChannel 8's Yvonne Harris shows us it's an awkward problem.

From domestic calls to burglaries, Officer Marvin Blades wants people to know they can count on him. But, some of his fellow black officers want to know if they can count on fairness within the Tulsa Police Department. At issue is a white officer who allegedly stole another officer's jacket, then bypassed the normal disciplinary process and received preferential treatment.

"The department is put on notice by officers action that he as taken property from another officer within the halls of the police department," says Derrek Lewis with the Black Officers Coalition. "And, if he does that to an officer, why wouldn't he do that to any citizen?" Some not only consider this an embarrassment but a black eye for the department.

"Ninety-percent of the officers don't care for this to come out," Lewis says. "But, when it comes out it affects all of us." That includes citizens like Philip Cervantes, who is tired of vandals in his neighborhood. "If the morale is low, they won't have so much incentive to come over here, extra effort to make the public feel more safe," Cervantes says.

For avid walker Helen Powell, she wants to know police are looking out for her and her property. Her family has been the target of thieves. "We have had a lot of things taken from our yard and garage," Powell says. "Moped, baby swing, Santa."

While Powell knows morale can affect officers' performance, she hopes they always stay focused on catching the bad guys. Some of the black officers have consulted an attorney and are planning legal action. The Fraternal Order of Police says the officer who is being accused is still employed and that no further action will be taken.

Blades is the TPD's version of Rev. $harpton. [B)]

And people wonder why the mayor wants an outsider as police chief. Sheesh.

"Guilty until proven innocent" is how this story reads. Someone stole something and the whole thing was a white boy coverup. Be interesting if we had any actual information. Did someone just accidentally pickup the wrong jacket? Was it real theft? Did the person who had the item stolen press charges?

Observe it first as to how it would be handled with civilians. If someone is caught red-handed with stolen merchandise, they often times get arrested.

Either someone is making a mountain out of a molehill or there is an officer who shouldn't be there. Either way, this story doesn't scream "our department is full of police chief material" to me.

Given the history of one of the people quoted:  "I'll take 'Mountain Out Of A Molehill' for $200 Alex!"

I still don't see how this story relates to the search for a new chief...

Apparently an internal investigation was done, and there are, as of yet, unsubstantiated claims of racism.

For all we know, this incident could have been handled properly, or it may not have been, but at this point no one knows.

Why are we jumping to conclusions?

(http://img274.imageshack.us/img274/4894/jumptoconclusions2xk.jpg)

I dunno, maybe another extortion attempt by the BOC.  Worked the last time.

The consent decree is coming to an end and the BOC needs something to keep it going.

You guys both make it sound like just the Black Officers Coalition is doing this for attention.

I don't doubt that, but what about the officer who stole the jacket? Why is he still on the force?

Read the story again, no one has any evidence that whitey stole his jacket to begin with.  You can't fire someone for allegedly doing something that no one can prove.

quote:

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Originally posted by MH2010

The consent decree is coming to an end and the BOC needs something to keep it going.

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It will never come to an end and Bullock won't let it.  Just look how long he dragged out Hissom, or how long he dragged out the prison suits.  Decades, not just a couple years.

quote:

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Originally posted by iplaw

Read the story again, no one has any evidence that whitey stole his jacket to begin with.  You can't fire someone for allegedly doing something that no one can prove.

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Your language is not called for.

Please go back and read the story again. It states that "...the department is put on notice..." that this occurred. Are you implying that the department would take such a measure without proof?

The incident was investigated and it was determined that the officer did not steal the jacket.

The BOC is trying to make something out of nothing.  The consent decree is coming up for review by Judge Kern later this year because it is set to expire.

quote:

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Originally posted by MH2010

The incident was investigated and it was determined that the officer did not steal the jacket.

The BOC is trying to make something out of nothing.  The consent decree is coming up for review by Judge Kern later this year because it is set to expire.

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Now that is helpful information.

Everything in the story said that someone said or was told or "put on notice" the jacket was stolen. No-one ever officially first hand said it was.

quote:

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Your language is not called for.

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Lighten up.

(http://www.greenapple.com/~wrybred/despair%20political%20correctness.jpg)

quote:

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Please go back and read the story again. It states that "...the department is put on notice..." that this occurred. Are you implying that the department would take such a measure without proof?

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What? That they would investigate an allegation that someone's jacket was stolen?  No one has proof that this guy did it.  Just an allegation.

THAT'S WHY THE TITLE OF THE STORY SAYS "THEFT ACCUSATIONS"

There is no justification for your using racial terms like that.

Make fun of political correctness all you want...it is still not appropriate to use such terms.

[xx(]  Please.

quote:

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Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:

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Originally posted by MH2010

The incident was investigated and it was determined that the officer did not steal the jacket.

The BOC is trying to make something out of nothing.  The consent decree is coming up for review by Judge Kern later this year because it is set to expire.

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Now that is helpful information.

Everything in the story said that someone said or was told or "put on notice" the jacket was stolen. No-one ever officially first hand said it was.

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Who is running this investigation?  Captain Queeg?

quote:

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Originally posted by recyclemichael

There is no justification for your using racial terms like that.

Make fun of political correctness all you want...it is still not appropriate to use such terms.

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I didn't see you chastise grizz for saying "white boy coverup".

I don't get why we are expected to be apologists when the discrimination is directed at black people and keep our mouths shut when the racism or discrimination flows the other direction.

We are all just saying what everyone else thinks but has become too afraid to say these days.  Especially when it is about people who legally carry a side-arm.

I didn't know "white boy" was a slur.

It wasn't any more than "whitey" was.  We just have someone who's a bit uptight on this thread.

I'm also quite sure that he's by no means concerned that either of us were being racial.  He just wanted to get a shot in at me.  

He also likes to take shots at the police department whenever he can.

I glad you two speak for me. This wasn't a shot directed at you Iplaw nor a shot at the police.

I think the term "whitey" is offensive and I will admit to being uptight about it. I won't stand by when people say racist words.

Would it be OK to say "blackie"?

No.

Nor would it have been appropriate to say that it was a "black boy coverup."  

I'll take feigned outrage for $50 Alex...[V]

You are right. Grizzle probably shouldn't use that phrase either. I just wasn't as offended by it as I was yours.

Someone pass me the CRACKERS.

Somewhere in the past one of the posters explained “hearsay”.  Is this thread based on the explanation?

Pretty much.  I don't think it's a real prudent idea to fire a union policeman over hearsay.  So they didn't.

This may, or may not have anything to do with hearsay.  It's just an allegation, no different than if a child at school says that little Jimmy stole his lunch.  If someone doesn't come forward with proof that Jimmy did the deed you can't send little Jimmy to detention.

Accusation != Guilt

The issue is, as I can decipher, the BOC says that no real investigation was done and that claims were dismissed without being scrutinized.

Ex-Tulsa Police Officer Wants Out Of Prison Early


Former Tulsa Police officer Marvin Blades Junior, who was convicted of robbing Hispanic drivers during traffic stops, wants out of prison early.
He's been in prison for two years but has 33 more years to go in his 35-year sentence.
His family members, former Tulsa Police Officers, including his father, and a state senator all testified at the Tulsa County Courthouse on Wednesday, asking the judge to lighten his sentence.
Blades Junior said he needs to be there for his children and he takes responsibility for what he's done, but it wasn't enough to sway the judge. "We are very disappointed that nothing changed today," said State Senator and family friend Kevin Matthews.
He was originally convicted of five counts of robbery with a firearm and sentenced to 35 years in prison.
During the trial, four Hispanic witnesses testified, and a recording from an undercover Hispanic officer who was pulled over by Blades Junior was played.
They all claim Blades Junior stole money from their wallets when he pulled them over.
So far, he's served two years of his sentence with the hope the judge would modify it for his families sake. "It is a financial hardship and an emotional hardship on them," explained Matthews.
Blades Junior told the judge today, quote "I feel like I have learned my lesson and I can go back to society and be a productive citizen."
Matthews says it was a non-violent crime and he should be punished accordingly. “No gun was brandished, no one was threatened [and] no violence happened," he stated. "We've had people that have robbed banks with guns that didn't get this much time and so it's puzzling and troubling."



Blades had his gun -- what TPD cop doesnt -- and was in his TPD uniform when he robbed people.

As we know, you dont have to be "brandishing" a gun to be "justifiably" shot:
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/may/31/oklahoma-pastor-nehemiah-fischer-trooper-shooting-flooding

Do you think the senator and those police officer would testify for lower sentences for other repeat armed robbery suspects? To me, its worse to do it as an officer than as Joe Blow.

Just a rhetorical semi-rant....

How about officers of the court - Tulsa lawyers, DA's, and Judge - to reject a guy's attempt to plead guilty for assault with a deadly weapon just because he is family of the "in crowd"...?   (Mark Allen Eaton).

But Joe Blow would still be in prison, especially if black...