Tulsa Reserve Officer 'Prepared To Do The Same' As Moore Reserve Deputy

A business executive doubling as an off-duty reserve deputy stopped a suspect in Thursday's gruesome beheading, likely saving lives. A reserve officer in Tulsa said he'd be prepared to do the same.

Friday, September 26th 2014, 10:53 pm

By: News On 6


A business executive doubling as an off-duty reserve deputy stopped a suspect in Thursday's gruesome beheading, likely saving lives. A reserve officer in Tulsa said he'd be prepared to do the same.

Reserve officers go through at least six months training, work as many hours as most part-time jobs and don't get paid. Many, like John Fitzpatrick, say it's just their civic duty.

"Some guys go out and play golf and tennis, I go out and play cop,” he said.

Fitzpatrick works at the Drummond Law Firm, but when his day there is done, he assumes another profession.

"I love having this totally different approach of being able to go out and put on a police uniform at night and do something that's totally different than what you do during the day,” he said.

Fitzpatrick flew in the Air National Guard, but for the past decade he's answered the call to serve as a reserve officer for the Tulsa Police Department, clocking more than 7,000 hours on wheels.

He said the one part of his uniform he never removes is his gun.

“If I perceive somebody's life is in danger, or mine is, I'll take the gun out and do whatever I need to do to get it stopped,” Fitzpatrick said.

He said Mark Vaughan, COO of Vaughn Foods, did exactly what an off-duty reserve deputy should do.

9/26/2014 Related Story: Sheriff: Off-Duty Deputy's Quick Response Saved Lives During Moore Attack

Moore Police say Alton Alexander Nolen beheaded coworker Colleen Hufford, and was stabbing coworker Traci Johnson, when Vaughan shot and injured him, stopping his attacks.

9/26/2014 Related Story: Police: Former Employee Beheaded Woman At Moore Workplace

"Cops don't think about being somebody, 'I want to take a life,' it's, 'I want to defend one, and I'll do whatever it takes to defend one.' If that means taking one or two or three, I'll do whatever it takes to save that life, so that's what I would tell him, 'Job well done,'" Fitzpatrick said.

Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz hails Vaughan a hero.

"A lot of people will see things and get involved in things, but they don't know what to do. These people are trained and have the resources to react, and he did today, and that's really valuable,” Glanz said.

When asked about gun control and concealed carry, Fitzpatrick said, with all of his training, he feels it's his responsibility to always carry.

He said those interested in getting their concealed carry license should consider getting more training.

As of Friday, Tulsa County has eight new reserve deputies. They were sworn in at the fairgrounds, and from there, they went right to work, patrolling the fair.

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