One year ago, April 2, a seemingly routine bust turned into a tragedy whose shock waves led to a long-overdue shakeup of the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office.
On that spring day, undercover officers made a gun-buy sting from Eric Harris. Harris fled and was pursued and tackled by deputies. Then, everything went wrong.
Reserve Deputy Robert Bates, 73, rushed to the scene and fatally shot Harris. Bates later said he had mistaken his gun for his Taser. Bates is awaiting trial on second-degree manslaughter charges.
But the episode has reached much further than that. Investigations by the Tulsa World and other local media outlets in addition to the diligent work by the grassroots organization We the People culminated in the resignation of longtime Sheriff Stanley Glanz, the removal of most of his top officers, as well as a grand jury investigation of the office. It brought to light unacceptable flaws in the Sheriff’s Office, including accusations of gross partiality, oppression in office, corruption in office, inexcusable recklessness and willful maladministration.
Something had been wrong in the Sheriff’s Office for a very long time.
Make no mistake, Eric Harris, 44, was breaking the law. He ought to have paid for his crime, but not with his life, and not in the manner in which he did so.
It’s difficult to say that a tragedy has led to something good. But as a result of the death of Harris, Tulsa, and especially north Tulsa, has shown its grit. What in many other cities might have turned into rioting or violence, was the impetus for civic engagement and positive change in Tulsa County. Justice was sought not on the streets and in the dark of night, but in the light of justice. We the People, with the belief that Tulsans would do the right thing, stood up to demand that justice through the power of the very system they challenged.
Although the end of the story is still to come, there is hope. Tulsa County will elect a new sheriff Tuesday. A thorough house-cleansing of the office is in order. It will not be fixed easily or quickly. We do believe, however, that change will come.
Eric Harris left a legacy. Likely not one that he anticipated. But one that surely will benefit all of Tulsa County.
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