Tulsa World: Three laid-off officers hope to return

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Three laid-off officers hope to return
Two are in police work; another is recovering from injury.

Tulsa Public Schools Police Officer Jared Grafton works at Memorial High School's front entrance. He is one of the three laid-off Tulsa police officers who weren't rehired with federal stimulus money. TOM GILBERT / Tulsa World

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer
Published: 11/24/2009 2:19 AM
Last Modified: 11/24/2009 9:55 AM

Two of the three laid-off Tulsa police officers have been hired by other police agencies, but all three hope to return soon to the jobs for which they trained.

Jared Grafton is working for the Tulsa Public Schools Campus Police Department. The 22-week position was made possible by grant money and doesn't include medical benefits.

Brad Blackwell has taken a job with the Tulsa International Airport Police Department.

The third laid-off officer, Mitchell Helberg, is recovering from a knee injury he received while on a call in downtown Tulsa when he was still a Tulsa police officer.

Despite receiving offers from throughout the state, the officers are trying to stay close to Tulsa because they are eager to return to the jobs they love.

"The sooner the better, but it definitely sounds like we have reason to be positive," Grafton said about returning to the Tulsa police force.

The city laid off 21 officers on Oct. 28 due to budget cuts. Eighteen of those officers were rehired with a federal stimulus grant that originally was intended to hire new police officers.

The three officers who have not been rehired were from the most recent academy class. A lottery is conducted with the members of each class to give each new officer a ranking for seniority, and the three who have not been rehired were the lowest ranked.

"These guys are trying to hang in there because they are wanting to be Tulsa police officers," said Phil Evans, president of the local Fraternal Order of Police.

As a Tulsa Public Schools officer, Grafton is providing security at Memorial High School.

"It is a paycheck, and I appreciate it, but police work is what I have always wanted to do," Grafton said. "I am real anxious to get back on the streets chasing bad guys and catching criminals."

Grafton said he has been in Tulsa most of his life and considers it home.

All of the officers said the Tulsa Police Department, the police union and the community have been very supportive. Even fellow officers they hadn't met before have reached out to offer help and support, Grafton said.

Helberg has been doing physical therapy three times a week for his injured knee, but he expects his doctor to allow him to go back to work soon.

Helberg, who just bought a house in Tulsa, said he feels like his career is in limbo. He is concerned that as more time passes, it will become less likely that the three officers will be rehired.

"I feel like if anything was going to happen, it would happen sooner than later," he said.

Helberg, whose father is a Tulsa Police Department captain, said he is looking at other career opportunities, such state or federal law enforcement.

"But I was really happy with my job, and I liked working for the city of Tulsa," he said. "It is a really unfortunate situation to be in."

Blackwell is scheduled to start his new job at Tulsa International Airport on Dec. 1.

"It is a way for me to be able to get an income and still stay in law enforcement," he said.

Since Blackwell and his wife are expecting a baby, the health benefits the job will provide are important, too. He thinks it would be easier to transition back to the Tulsa Police Department from the airport than from another job elsewhere in the state.

"At this time for me, I am not interested in looking at other departments," Blackwell said. "I am holding out hoping I can come back to (the Tulsa Police Department) soon."

Raising funds

The Fraternal order of Police has established the “FoP Save the City Fund” and hopes to collect at least $100,000 that would be given to the city so it could rehire the three officers.

If this doesn’t happen, donations will be returned to the contributors.

People who want to donate may send money to the FOP. Checks should be made to:

Fraternal Order of Police
Lodge 93
P.o. Box 2473
Tulsa, OK 74101

Nicole Marshall 581-8459
nicole.marshall@tulsaworld.com By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment r0rschach, (11/24/2009 7:21:56 AM) after they throw that crooked cop Ludwig in the clink, there will be a job opening for one of them.
	Report Comment JCash, Tulsa (11/24/2009 8:03:47 AM) Hopefully, Mayor Bartlett will undo the previous administration's personal, 11th-hour attack on TPD.
	Report Comment shaw411, Scottsdale, AZ (11/24/2009 8:25:09 AM) I wonder if there are other people who were laid off and still looking for work or had to settle for something outside of their career choice.....
	Report Comment forkandknife, Tulsa (11/24/2009 9:29:21 AM) Why don't they give one of these three men the job of the cop that was just busted with cocaine.
	Report Comment r0rschach, (11/24/2009 10:28:16 AM) that's what I just said! but he hasn't lost his job yet...nope innocent until proven guilty.
	Report Comment Shooter, Tulsa (11/24/2009 10:35:57 AM) It isnt a matter of money it is a matter of the mayor getting her way with the FOP. The other day it was on the news that the city is hiring for certian positions in the IT department, 911 operators etc. It is not about money it never was. Yes I realize the city is in a financial pinch right now however the mayor could rehire these three officers if she wanted. The reason she hasnt is because the FOP isnt caving in on all of her demands so she is refusing the rehire the three remaining officers. She is basically using them as pawns to get her way. She is one of the most munipulative people I have ever saw. Hopefully the new mayor will do the right thing for Tulsa and get Officers back out on our streets protecting us, instead of playing mind games with the FOP!!
	Report Comment Whirled Peas, (11/24/2009 11:54:15 AM) Shooter wrote: "the FOP isnt caving in on all of her demands so she is refusing the rehire the three remaining officers. She is basically using them as pawns to get her way." You could argue that the FOP is doing the same thing, using three officers as pawns in their power play. Maybe if the TPD had it's spending under control there would have been no need for this showdown. And of course, when the CID drug corruption investigation is complete there may be more than three positions needing filling.
	Report Comment Broken Errow, (11/24/2009 11:59:37 AM) Whirled Peas: wow, I'm impressed, you speak of CID problems, how do you know about any of that?
	Report Comment Daven, Tulsa (11/24/2009 12:23:04 PM) Thanks for the update TW. I sure hope this temporary economic set back is short lived in Tulsa.
	Report Comment What the ?, Tulsa (11/24/2009 12:39:36 PM) Whirled Peas only post what hear reads on TW. He knows nothing else. He's a cop hater.
	Report Comment What the ?, Tulsa (11/24/2009 12:40:10 PM) "he reads", not hear reads.
	Report Comment Shooter, Tulsa (11/24/2009 1:23:00 PM) Whirled Peas Why should the FOP give into her demands, she cant be trusted. She told the FOP if they take furloughs like everyone else that would help avoid layoffs. The FOP agreed and took furlough days and she turns around a couple of months later and she laid off 21 officers and 3 civilian positions from the PD. She has a personal vendetta against the PD ever since they arrested her daughter for DUI. Would should the FOP believe her. They could do everything she asks for and she turn around and say sorry we just cant hire them back. Taylor cannot be trusted she will say or do anything to get her way. Whirled Peas if you werent so guillible maybe you would see that, but since you are such a cop hater you are going to agree with anyone who is against the police.
	Report Comment Shooter, Tulsa (11/24/2009 1:23:46 PM) Why should, not would should
	Report Comment twilightnan, BA (11/24/2009 3:44:13 PM) Shooter "Whirled Peas if you werent so guillible maybe you would see that, but since you are such a cop hater you are going to agree with anyone who is against the police." Amen to that, I just wish everyone like whirled Peas that thinks they know everything had the whole story before they comment !!!! I say give the cars back and give the guys their 4% they should have gotten back then. Hope the FOP quits giving in to the City like they do every year, They get the shaft year after year. Let's do like alot of other cities and hire professionals to negotiate the contract for the officers.
	Report Comment Rocky 75, Hulbert (11/24/2009 4:46:26 PM) Mayor Taylor had 4 years to figure out a budjet that could fund police adequately. Tulsa only spends 16.8% of its annual operating budget on police. Wichita and OKC spend almost 1/3 of their budgets on police. Its a matter of making public safety a priority, something she has failed at terribly. Tulsa has never laid off an officer and for those who were not around when we got our first helicopter 2 officers died getting that program going. There is light at the end of the tunnel and we can only hope Mayor Bartlett will get us a chief who is more than a puppet on strings. There are all kinds of options out there but this mayor and her hand pick "team" are unable to pull anything out of their hat but tax dollars they have wasted.
	Report Comment JCash, Tulsa (11/24/2009 4:48:26 PM) Whirled Peas: The FOP does not hire, fire, promote, demote, suspend, award, reward, assign, dispatch, report, recruit, train, teach, consult, or pay any employees. The mayor and her ilk are totally responsible for that endeavor. Don't accuse the FOP of playing with pawns. The FOP is powerless in this matter.
	Report Comment o.s.u.cowboyfan, (11/24/2009 5:11:10 PM) really can't see everybody 100% being staffed in a city right now even in better times. figure that eventually some will retire or worse, not in the line of duty. also don't we have officers not on active duty due to overseas duties?
	Report Comment eriks_11, tulsa (11/24/2009 7:38:52 PM) The ballpark will keep us safe.
	Report Comment loudshirt, (11/24/2009 9:04:48 PM) I bet there are plenty of people out there who do not have anyone advocating on their behalf to get their job back. Yeah it sucks you got caught in the middle but get over it.
	Report Comment mrnotducks, Some Where (11/25/2009 8:52:14 AM) shaw411, Scottsdale, AZ (11/24/2009 8:25:09 AM) I wonder if there are other people who were laid off and still looking for work or had to settle for something outside of their career choice..... loudshirt, (11/24/2009 9:04:48 PM) I bet there are plenty of people out there who do not have anyone advocating on their behalf to get their job back. Yeah it sucks you got caught in the middle but get over it. The officers didn't call the World and ask them to do a story; the World called THEM! It's the TW that needs to "get over it" and find some other "news"!!!

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