Community Leaders Plan to Speak in Opposition to Course Taught by Officer Betty Shelby

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WHAT:          Community & Religious leaders and Citizens of Tulsa, OK call on Tulsa County Sherriff’s Office to cancel the training course for law enforcement lead by Officer Betty Shelby.
WHEN:          Monday, Aug. 27, 2018 from 12p.m. – 1p.m.
WHERE:        Civic Center Plaza – Between Tulsa Central Library and Tulsa County Courthouse located at 5^th St. and S. Denver Ave.
CONTACT:     Pastor Rodney Goss, Morning Star Baptist Church      (601) 319-5491

TULSA, Okla. – Community members will gather at Civic Center Plaza at noon on Monday, August 27 for a press conference to voice opposition to the Tulsa County Sherriff’s Office training session entitled “Surviving a Critical Incident”, lead by Officer Betty Shelby.

In September of 2016, Officer Better Shelby shot and killed Terence Crutcher, during a routine traffic stop.  Mr. Crutcher was unarmed and had his hands raised in the air when she discharged her weapon. Shelby was charged and tried for manslaughter before being acquitted in May of 2017. A jury of her peers stated that she should never be a patrol officer again. Community members have expressed deep concern over the decision to hire Officer Shelby to train other Tulsa law enforcement officers in how to manage a similar incident.  They believe the decision is indicative of a deep disconnect with the community and are calling on the Tulsa County Sherriff’s Office to remove Officer Shelby from the program.