35 Laid Off Tulsa Police Officers Say 'Yes' To Getting Rehired

By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Thirty-five Tulsa police officers rehired by a federal grant are a step closer to getting back on the job. They filled out paperwork and took drug tests Tuesday.

They'll pick up their badges, cars and gear and be back on duty on Monday, March 1st.

The officers are glad to be back on the beat, although worried about those who are still laid off. One of the officers who is being rehired, John Zaferes, decided at the age of 40 to give up teaching and become a police officer because of the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Zaferes moved from New York to Tulsa 23 years ago. He graduated from ORU and became a teacher and coach for Jenks, and then Union. But, then 9-11 happened and he and his twin brother knew they had to do something to either prevent that type of tragedy or help victims, so both became Tulsa police officers.

"I knew a few guys that I grew up with that died in the building, firemen and police officers who went back into the building after they knew it was going to come down, to save as many people," said Zaferes.

Zaferes never dreamed he would be laid off after being on the force four and a half years. He says it has been a roller coaster ride.

"Then you hear, 'oh well, they agreed to this, so now you'll get a call back any minute.' Well, a week later, it hasn't happened and then you get a severance check and think 'oh crap, this is the real deal. I gotta start looking elsewhere,' you know," said Zaferes.

The thought of Zaferes relocating his wife and kids was hard enough, but he'd also be leaving his twin and many other family members.

"My extended family has even moved down here. My parents, the in-laws, live two blocks apart. My younger brother and his wife and little girl, even my aunt moved from New York and my grandmother, so now my kids have another great-grandmother, so I really don't want to leave," said Zaferes.

Zaferes really appreciated getting the call to come back to work, but worries about the 80 or so officers who are still unemployed.

The 35 rehired officers come back at the same pay level and keep their accrued sick days, but lose all their built up vacation time because they keep their severance pay. They say they were reassured, the federal grant money will cover their salaries for the next 17 months and after that, they are budgeted for, so hopefully, they won't get laid off again.

2/22/2010 Related story: Process Of Rehiring 35 Laid Off Tulsa Police Officers Begins