Tulsa And The County Consider Joint Police Effort

By Emory Bryan, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Law enforcement inside the city limits of Tulsa could soon be a joint effort between the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office and the Tulsa Police Department.

What is driving the discussion, according to city of Tulsa officials, is city budget cuts.

A scenario is emerging that could have the city of Tulsa lay off police officers to save money, then pay Tulsa County Sheriff's Office deputies to handle some of the city's calls.

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett said Wednesday, he's talked with the sheriff's office, and while no agreement has been made, he believes it's an option the city needs to consider.

"Everything has to be evaluated: reorganization, consolidation, re-evaluation - everything has to be considered," said Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett.

"If they need help right now, we'll go and work out the logistics of it later," said Tulsa County Undersheriff Brian Edwards.

The mayor is waiting on a proposal from the sheriff, and at the same time, waiting for plans from the Tulsa Police Department on how they can cut at least another $1.7 million from their budget.

Mayor Bartlett said the joint effort would not be a consolidation of the two law enforcement agencies, but rather something more than the mutual aid agreement they have now.