Acting Tulsa Sheriff: Full Administration To Blame For Problems, Not One Person

Acting Tulsa Sheriff Michelle Robinette held an impromptu news conference outside the federal courthouse in downtown Tulsa, a day after an audit reported wide-ranging problems with the office.

Robinette said the problems uncovered by the audit should be blamed on the administration as a whole, not just one person.

2/25/1016: Related Story: Audit Finds 'System-Wide Failure' In Tulsa County Sheriff's Office

Robinette said she has wanted to respond to the audit in a more formal setting, but has not been able to because she's a witness in a federal lawsuit against former sheriff Stanley Glanz and has had to spend her days at the federal courthouse. 

2/25/2016: Related Story: Alleged Tulsa Jail Rape Victim Testifies In Federal Trial

Robinette said she and the remaining administrators were already making changes when the audit came out. She pointed out that many of the people involved in the administration have left.

She said she hasn't had a chance to read the whole report and will hold a news conference next week once she has. Robinette said she hopes to stay on after a new sheriff is elected in April but said she knows that's up to the new sheriff.

Special Coverage: Tulsa County Sheriff's Office Controversy

Tulsa county commissioners ordered the audit after the shooting death of Eric Harris by Reserve Deputy Bob Bates. The 238-page document reports on all aspects of sheriff's office operations.

It found a "system-wide failure of leadership and supervision" and said problems with the reserve deputy program were the most visible manifestation of that failure.