Twenty-one officers turned in their equipment on Wednesday after learning they were laid off. The city says the budget is to blame. We watched as they emptied their cars and turned in their badges. They say they simply don't understand.
Shawn Kite is one of those officers. He says, "I wanted to help people. It is a job I thought was fascinating and interesting." Kite has wanted to be a tulsa police officer for as long as he can remember. His dream came true with the most recent academy class to graduate. He was thrilled. But Monday his dream was put on hold. He says, "It is not a regular job and it's not like I went through two weeks of training.. it's devastating."
Phillip Evans, the FOP President says, "Tulsa has never laid off crime fighters before and we're trying to help them get through it as well as we can." A few of the officers have babies on the way and insurance is key. Evans says, "Right now our fop insurance trust is looking for a way to take care of their insurance until they are hired back or take another job."
Another blow to the department is that the horses will no longer be a part of the force. The helicopters will also be grounded. It is a tough reality for these officers as they take steps into the unknown. They hope while this door closes, another will open.
The police union says there are talks that the Tulsa Public School Police Department could hire some of the officers. Also, a few officers are trying to raise enough money to pay the city to keep the officers on. The city has requested permission to use federal a grant to re-hire 18 of the 21 officers. Police say it may take months to find out if that will be allowed.
