Process Begins To Impanel TCSO Grand Jury

A Tulsa County District Court judge began the process Monday of deciding who will sit on a grand jury that will investigate the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office. 

A petition was circulated by "We the People Oklahoma" calling for a grand jury investigation into the office. In June, the Tulsa County Election Board verified 6,647 signatures on that petition. 

Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz and his office have been under increased scrutiny since a reserve deputy shot and killed Eric Harris during an undercover gun sting in April. 

Glanz has tried a couple of times to stop the grand jury, but the Oklahoma Supreme Court rejected his last motion.

Special Coverage: TCSO Reserve Deputy Shooting Controversy

The judge will select 15 jurors out a pool of 100 summoned county residents. 

Once the grand jury is seated, the jurors will decide if Sheriff Glanz neglected his duties and whether anyone in his office received preferential treatment. They can also ask for any piece of evidence and subpoena anyone to testify.  

While the grand jury stems from Reserve Deputy Robert Bates shooting of Eric Harris, it does not impact a second-degree manslaughter charge filed against him.  Last week, a judge set a February 8, 2016 trial date for Bates.

7/13/2015 Related Story: Tulsa Reserve Deputy Bob Bates Pleads Not Guilty, Trial Date Set