Manpower shortage during layoffs contributes to oversight

TULSA - Two unmarked Tulsa Police Department cars, missing for six weeks, have been found. Turns out the cars were towed, and the police department didn't know until now.

Police administrators say a combination of events led to the oversight, and they've already put in corrective measures to make sure it doesn't happen again.

The cars were parked in a private parking garage downtown, underneath the Tulsa County Courthouse. When Allied Towing owner Jim Rice ran the tags, the City of Tulsa turned up as owners. Rice figured they were police cars because of the equipment inside. Two notices were sent out, but Rice never heard back.

The city did not receive the notices, because it was sent to 200 Civic Center, the old City Hall address.

The detectives assigned to the cars didn't know their cars were towed, because they had been re-assigned to patrols. Even the officers who keep inventory of the equipment were out patrolling to fill a manpower shortage caused by layoffs.

"Somebody else had to step in and do double duty and keep track of all the cars," said Captain Jonathan Brooks. "It was a difficult task."

Brooks says the police department does lease several spots in the parking garage, but two officers parked in spots that were not designated for police. Last week, when the detectives went back to investigating, they couldn't find their cars. That prompted a call to Allied Towing, six weeks after the cars were first towed. By that time, the impound fee had gone up to $1,600.

"The sad part about this thing is, it's not the City of Tulsa paying for it, it's the taxpayers that's gonna pay this bill," said Rice.

A bill that Rice has already decided to waive. He says it's not about the money. He just wants government to do a better job of managing taxpayer's investments.