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The internal report, obtained by KRMG this week, concluded that Reserve Deputy Robert Bates did in fact receive special treatment, including credit for training hours he didn’t actually complete.
The report finds that "policy has been violated and continues to be violated by both Captain Tom Huckeby and Chief Deputy Tim Albin with regard to special treatment shown to Reserve Deputy Robert Bates with regard to his field training and with Captain Huckeby and Chief Albin creating an atmosphere in which employees were intimidated to fail to adhere to policies in a manner which benefits Reserve Deputy Bates."
The Sergeant conducting the 2009 investigation was asked to address if Bates was treated differently that other Reserve Deputies or if any TCSO employees felt pressured to aid in any special treatment. The report, as well as documents included, show there were concerns from several employees about Bates’ training.
According to the report, Bates’ field training officer said Bates was not ready for the field and would need additional training. Major Tom Huckeby, who oversaw the Field Training Program at the time, says in the report that he was instructed by Tim Albin to re-write a memo written by Warren Crittenden, Bates’ field training officer and have it initialed by Crittenden.
One Sergeant quoted in the report says he was “chewed out” for Bates not qualifying at the gun range. The report goes on to say Bates was found to be stopping vehicles on his own without completing the proper training. When approached about this, it says Bates said “I don’t have time to talk to you” and “if you don’t like it you can talk to Tim Albin or Sheriff Glanz, because I’m going to do it.”
One Sergeant told the investigator he was admonished by Chief Albin to "stop messing with him [Bates] because he does a lot of good for the County." Earlier this week, Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz addressed the report during news conference, saying he wasn’t sure of the outcome, and he believed they found there was no special treatment.
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