Could Jenks, Bixby And Glenpool Officers Become Sheriff's Deputies?

By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6

UNDATED -- City administrators in Jenks, Glenpool and Bixby have asked the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office to explore the idea of taking over their police departments.

The city of Glenpool currently has around 16 police officers. City Manager Ed Tinker says the goal under the plan to turn police work over to the sheriff's office, would be for all of those officers to keep their jobs. However, they would be deputies working for the sheriff, rather than officers working for the city.

He says he will only agree to it if it is bigger, better and cheaper for his town and says it's so early in the talks, that he's not even sure yet how much money it would save.

The city of Jenks has around 14 full time officers and that city manager says as they look at a new budget year, they are looking at all kinds of different ways to do business.

Jenks City Manager Mike Tinker said it would be similar to how they've contracted with an outside company to manage their wastewater treatment plant.

While the cities would pay the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office for service, they should see some savings in areas like workers comp and civil liability. The Sheriff's Office has already met with the pension board to see if the officers from Glenpool, Jenks and Bixby - once they become deputies - could keep the money they've invested in their retirements, since the city and county pension plans are different.

The City leaders say the Sheriff's Office - as a larger organization - would have more resources for handling crimes and special events and has a steady stream of income, being funded by property taxes rather than sales taxes.

They insist this idea is in still in the beginning stages and nothing has been decided.

Several of the affected officers say they're not happy about the idea of becoming deputies, but none wanted to talk on camera. The state Fraternal Order of Police says it won't have a comment until the talks become more concrete

City administrators in Jenks, Glenpool and Bixby have asked the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office to explore the idea of taking over their police departments.

Glenpool currently has around 16 police officers. City Manager Ed Tinker says the goal under the plan to turn police work over to the sheriff's office, would be for all of those officers to keep their jobs. However, they would be deputies working for the sheriff, rather than officers working for the city.

He says he will only agree to it if it is bigger, better and cheaper for his town and says it's so early in the talks, that he's not even sure yet how much money it would save.

Jenks has around 14 full time officers and that city manager says as they look at a new budget year, they are looking at all kinds of different ways to do business.

Jenks City Manager Mike Tinker said it would be similar to how they've contracted with an outside company to manage their wastewater treatment plant.

While the cities would pay the Sheriff's Office for service, they should see some savings in areas like workers comp and civil liability. The Sheriff's Office has already met with the pension board to see if the officers from Glenpool, Jenks and Bixby - once they become deputies - could keep the money they've invested in their retirements, since the city and county pension plans are different.

The City leaders say the Sheriff's Office - as a larger organization - would have more resources for handling crimes and special events and has a steady stream of income, being funded by property taxes rather than sales taxes.

They insist this idea is in still in the beginning stages and nothing has been decided.

Several of the affected officers say they're not happy about the idea of becoming deputies, but none wanted to talk on camera. The state Fraternal Order of Police says it won't have a comment until the talks become more concrete