Tulsa World: TPD officers under investigation

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TPD officers under investigation
A federal agent is also being scrutinized by a grand jury for possible corruption.

By OMER GILLHAM World Staff Writer
Published: 11/1/2009 2:30 AM
Last Modified: 11/1/2009 3:25 AM

Several Tulsa police officers and at least one federal agent are under investigation by a federal grand jury for possible corruption, the Tulsa World has learned.

The grand jury is meeting in a secret location and is being led by federal prosecutors from out of state, an anonymous source said.

Prosecutors appear to be focusing on several Tulsa police officers assigned to the Special Investigations Division. Additionally, an agent either currently or formerly employed with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is a target of the probe, sources said.

Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Woodward said he could not confirm or deny the existence of a grand jury.

Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor said she could not comment specifically on any ongoing investigation but said she would fully cooperate with any probe into public corruption.

"I support our hard-working public servants, prosecutors and police officers," the mayor said in a prepared statement. "But I will not tolerate corruption involving any public servant, particularly with those who have taken an oath to uphold the law.

"If it is determined that any officer of TPD has broken the law, they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law," Taylor said.

Tulsa Police Chief Ron Palmer said last week that he has received no official notification of an investigation.

"I have heard the rumors. The rumors that I have heard are all from the legal community about people being called before the grand

jury."

Some individuals contacted by the World said a federal gag order is in place, prohibiting them from speaking about the specifics of the grand jury or its proceedings.

"I have talked to multiple attorneys who have talked to Arkansas prosecutors and acknowledged that a grand jury is taking place and that prisoners are being brought in to testify," said Tulsa attorney Joe Norwood.

Norwood said he is not bound by the gag order.

Tulsa County District Court records show that Norwood has filed a motion to produce discovery in two cases involving clients accused of drug crimes. Norwood is seeking the employment and disciplinary files of Tulsa police officers who could be the target of the federal grand jury, he said.

A source who asked to remain anonymous said: "This grand jury and its secrecy is done for a purpose, and that is the protection of these people who are powerless to be able to deal with this. I am not in the least bit joking. These guys are dangerous. The people that are being exploited by these officers are in the first place criminals, and these folks are in peril."

The officers remain employed by the Tulsa Police Department, records show.

ATF officials said they could not confirm or deny the employment of the ATF agent believed to be a focus of the investigation.

Sources said one of the cases being reviewed by the grand jury is that of Larry Wayne Barnes Sr., 59, and his daughter Larita Annette Barnes, 33, of Tulsa.

The case was filed Aug. 10, 2007, in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma. The two were found guilty April 23, 2008, of two counts of selling methamphetamine and maintaining a home where meth was produced, records show.

U.S. Chief District Judge Claire Eagan was assigned to the Barnes case.

On June 26, 2009, while Barnes and his daughter were still in federal prison, U.S. Attorney David O'Meilia filed a motion to withdraw from the Barnes case, records show.

"The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma has been recused from this matter due to a recently discovered conflict of interest," the pleading states. "Substitute counsel for the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas have entered their appearances in this appeal."

That same week, Jane W. Duke, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, asked the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for permission to file a pleading under seal in the Barnes case.

"The information to be contained in the pleading to be filed under seal is related to an ongoing investigation," Duke's pleading states.

"The United States further submits that the information contained in the pleading could jeopardize an ongoing criminal investigation and/or jeopardize the safety of witnesses in that ongoing investigation.''

Records show that Larry Barnes was released from federal prison July 2, 2009, after serving about one year on two 5 1/2-year sentences, which were to run concurrently.

Larita Barnes was released from federal custody the same day, records show. She had received two concurrent 10-year sentences. Larita Barnes is currently in the custody of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections in another case.

The day before the two were released from federal prison, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals remanded their case back to federal district court in Tulsa, records show. That order is one of more than 35 sealed documents in the Barnes case.

However, some testimony in the case remains available.

Defense attorneys questioned procedures that Tulsa police and a federal agent used to provide money for an informant who allegedly bought a substantial amount of methamphetamine from Larry and Larita Barnes. Additionally, investigating officers faced questions on the lack of phone records between the informant and the defendants, records show.

Meanwhile, records show that at least eight inmates were taken to two area county jails last month with orders to hold them for the Northern District of Oklahoma or the U.S. Marshals Service.

One of the inmates was taken to a jail from the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, where he is serving a 10-year sentence on a Tulsa County drug-trafficking conviction, records show. At least two inmates were taken to an area jail from federal prisons in El Reno and Texas, records show.

Sources said the inmates are being interviewed in the corruption probe, which involves alleged false testimony, theft and questionable handling of drugs and drugs proceeds.

Omer Gillham 581-8301
omer.gillham@tulsaworld.com By OMER GILLHAM World Staff Writer

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Sunday: Grand jury probes Tulsa officers, U.S. agent," which was published on 10/31/2009.

	Report Comment Carlos, Tulsa (10/31/2009 2:41:09 PM) PLEASE say this includes OHP! If not, it most certainly needs to. This is exactly what Van Guillotte and the rest of OHP needs.....a reality check.
	Report Comment livinglarge, (10/31/2009 2:45:58 PM) looks like those officers might get their jobs back, right kitty?
	Report Comment Four Sixteen Rigby, Tulsa (10/31/2009 2:58:20 PM) What's that you say? BATFE and TPD Special Division officers under investigation? No. Surprise. To. Me. It also doesn't surprise me that DOJ farmed this out to non-Tulsa federal prosecutors. This will be very VERY interesting.
	Report Comment QLC, (10/31/2009 3:00:13 PM) Shocking news. I wonder how many constitute several? Looking forward to some details tomorrow. Might even make it worth getting up for. Let's see how I think this will pan out. 5 or 6 officers will be suspended with pay. They will refuse to answer any questions citing union protection. They will continue to get paid until after we get a new mayor, where upon they will fire the secretary, reinstate the officers and life goes on. Then the TPD union will meet with the OHP union to discuss methods of creating additional extended vacations for their officers. On the good side, it may explain better the layoffs of the tulsa police officers because I am confident that the mayor was being kept advised by the feds and she knew that there would soon be a shortage of police officers and the laid off personnel could get their jobs back. Win Win.
	Report Comment chubby, tulsa (10/31/2009 3:01:01 PM) It`s about time they get checked out. It be nice to know the names. to many cover up, this includes the killing of my son during a routine traffic stop. Time to get rid of the bad and keep the good.
	Report Comment Corvetteguy, Tulsa (10/31/2009 3:03:17 PM) Funny, there will be a grand jury investigation of Tulsa Police Officers and a US agent, but... NO grand Jury investigation of former County Commissioner Randi Miller and her questionable dealings in the Bell's Park fiasco, or the "opps, we forgot to cash the check for Big Splash water park rent"?... How about the "NO bid" sweet lucrative contract awarded to Jerry Murphy for the fair midway monopoly? Strange indeed,....... No grand jury there, huh.....
	Report Comment billy8, Sand Springs (10/31/2009 3:23:35 PM) Wake up Tulsa, your cops have been corrupt for a long time. It's about time some got caught.
	Report Comment FS, Broken Arrow (10/31/2009 3:30:34 PM) Gee, what a surprise! Whoever would have thought that people with no checks on their actions would be corrupt? With any luck, the Queen had her finger in the pie and will be dragged into this also.
	Report Comment Elusive, the burbs (10/31/2009 3:34:28 PM) Well it certainly doesn't give us much to go on. I wonder if the officers know they are being investigated. It will be interesting to see what this is all about.
	Report Comment tulsa flyer, (10/31/2009 3:35:38 PM) I heard Big Splash was owned by Murphy's ex wife. The news about the forgotten check kinda died down fast didn't it?
	Report Comment Polly Wog, Tulsa (10/31/2009 3:43:02 PM) Close, FS. I don't think that's the "pie" her finger is lodged in. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Just plain get rid of the whole concept of policing. Since it seems nearly universal that all police are despised, corrupt, racist, murderers, just fire them all and let us fend for ourselves. After all, there are not enough of them to do the job now, so we're practically on our own already. Right? Who said no checks and balances? Ever seen the TPD policy and procedures manual? An officer can't take a shower in his own home without violating some rule or other. That's why there's a certain sense of apathy among our officers, just like in every other large department. It's hard to care when you know the administration does not have your back, and you're in trouble no matter what you do or don't do. Many won't even bother to get out of the car if they can avoid it. Would you? I'll bet if we suspend all law enforcement activity in Tulsa's city limits until this investigation is over, the city will be nice and peaceful once the officers come back on duty. The bad guys will be over the state line or under the turf.
	Report Comment Thunder196, Tulsa (10/31/2009 3:48:53 PM) I guess this means they are human and could possibly make bad choices also.
	Report Comment FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (10/31/2009 3:49:55 PM) I don't know about the rest of you, but when I see smoke I presume their is a fire. Just wondering out loud how many other officers are corrupt that are not being investigated and who will never be caught. Five to six, some say. But suppose their are 50-100 and we will never know about it. I hold the entire department under suspicion until any and all indictments and subsequent trials are concluded. Continue the layoffs. We may need to cull the ranks, so that when the economy and sales tax receipts improve we have room to infuse new blood in the police department. Where there is smoke there is a fire.
	Report Comment Amiyy4u, (10/31/2009 3:50:29 PM) Carlos must have been arrested by OHP or issued a ticket. He doesn't realize all the men and women in OHP that put their lives on the line so he can enjoy his freedom!
	Report Comment CrippledShark, San Antonio (10/31/2009 3:51:12 PM) What? Corruption within the City of Tulsa and ATF? No way........Everyone knows that all employees at the City of Tulsa Police Dept (SID) are as pure as the driven snow. I'm appalled that anyone would even think such atrocities are taking place within the wonderful city of Tulsa. BTW, I have some ocean front property in Osage county if anyone is interested? CS
	Report Comment Carlos, Tulsa (10/31/2009 4:00:17 PM) Amiyy4u, And you must have a family member that is an OHP trooper. Either that or you just started reading the paper today.
	Report Comment Amiyy4u, (10/31/2009 4:04:48 PM) carlos, ever think that maybe your are prejudice toward OHP. You even make comments against them in a Tulsa PD story. Try law enforcement and see if you can hack it!
	Report Comment thanks but no thanks, (10/31/2009 4:05:40 PM) And such is the result of the new management style under Kathy Taylor -- top-down leadership. Kathy Taylor and her at-will cronies need to be included in such an investigation also.
	Report Comment Thunder196, Tulsa (10/31/2009 4:07:29 PM) Take it to the top. Chief Palmer has told officers not to enforce some of the laws. That leads to obeying only some of the laws. In order to expect ethics and integrity, the one leading has to have them.
	Report Comment JCash, (10/31/2009 4:10:38 PM) Word to the wise: It's pretty easy to print that there is an investigation. So what? Better yet, it's a good thing. Hopefully the truth will prevail. But unitl then don't believe half of what you see and all of what you hear. EVERYBODY is assumed innocent until proven otherwise. Judge slow. Judge once. Be right.
	Report Comment TMT, tulsa (10/31/2009 4:10:43 PM) it's official. i'm tired of hearing about the police department. i think i'll refrain from reading articles for a while. well, maybe i'll check out tomorrow's story just to see if i recognize any names and then i'll refrain from any future articles.
	Report Comment pepper74112, Tulsa (10/31/2009 4:17:54 PM) There are good cops and bad cops just like in everything else. There are some though that let it go to there heads like the OHP we keep hearing about. Give a little rope and they hang them selves. Problem is someone has to get hurt first. Weed out the hot heads they hurt the reputation of them all. It's too bad, we need our law enforcement now more then ever.
	Report Comment Thunder196, Tulsa (10/31/2009 4:26:30 PM) Usually if there is a bad cop or cops, there are plenty of other officers that know about it. . Police keep asking people to come forward with information and help them with prosecuting criminals. . That is a two way street. If they know there are bad cops and they look the other way, they are adhering to the code of silence they are asking us to break down. . Actions speak louder then words.
	Report Comment florence, tulsa (10/31/2009 4:34:39 PM) Heads up folks: This is a heavy duty federal investigation being carried out from the federal Western District of Arkansas. Many wittness have already been call and search warrants issued. This is about big time crime and drugs and gangs and theft and drug dealing. This is not a slap on the writs situation there have already been cops testifying about other cops...very serious and could bring down the entire department and maybe the FOP. Nuff said for now.
	Report Comment Just a country boy, North Okmulgee County (10/31/2009 4:48:14 PM) There are times like this I am glad I am no longer living in Tulsa. But I still have to work and shop there. Hiya Pepper.

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