Council To Decide On Back Pay For Owasso Police Officer On Paid Leave

The Owasso City Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on giving one of its police officers back pay while he is on paid leave.

An arbitrator ruled in September 2014, the police department had to rehire Michael Denton and pay him more than $280,000 in back pay plus interest.  Denton was fired for using excessive force in 2011 after a security camera showed him elbowing a suspect three times in the face.  

The arbitrator said Denton should have gotten a letter of reprimand instead.  But now, Denton is on paid leave after another incident in June.  In a dashcam video, you can see Denton hitting a chase suspect with a shotgun.

6/17/2015 Related Story: Owasso Police Officer Investigated For Excessive Force Again