EXCLUSIVE: Deputy Claims Allegations Against Sheriff's Office Are True

A Tulsa County sheriff's deputy says everything we're hearing about the sheriff's office is true.

He said others asked him to fake Reserve Deputy Bob Bates' training records, but he refused. He said he's risking his position as a veteran deputy by talking.

The deputy says he and other deputies have been threatened to keep quiet, which is why we aren't revealing his identity.

This veteran Tulsa County deputy wants people to know he, and other deputies, were intimidated to fake Bates' training records.

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“We were not allowed to question what he was doing. We were told to mind our own business whenever he was out in the field," he said.

He said Major Tom Huckeby and then-Deputy Chief Tim Albin intimidated deputies to falsify the records, or else they'd be demoted.

Harris: "Were you intimidated to fake Bates' training records?"
Deputy: "Yes, some of us were intimidated into doing it. Some of us that refused to do it, we had been threatened to be sent to the jail."

Harris: "Were you punished for refusing to fake Bates' training?"
Deputy: "No, I wasn't punished. They more or less tried to feel me out at the beginning and realized I more or less wasn't going to be one of their people to go with it."

Harris: "Were Bates' training records faked with or without the sheriff's knowledge?"
Deputy: "I would like to believe that the sheriff had no knowledge of it, but I believe that he knew. I believe that he was wanting Bates to be pushed out there because of the donations."

The sheriff's own records show Bates donated six vehicles, and more than $10,000 in equipment to the department.

Harris: "You do feel like the sheriff has a role in this?"
Deputy: "Yes, I do feel like the sheriff has a role in it. I feel like he's going to do like any other politician and blame anybody else."

The deputy believes Bates did not receive proper training, but instead, paid to play deputy, and it cost suspected illegal gun dealer Eric Harris his life.

Harris: "You're taking a huge risk by talking to us. Why do this?"
Deputy: "Other deputies won't. They're in fear to do this."

"This is not how law enforcement should behave. We need to be more professional, show more integrity," he said.

When asked why he didn't come forward years ago the deputy said he wanted to keep his job.

He said he wants the sheriff to resign, and believes that's the only way things will change.

We called the sheriff's office for comment, but have not heard back.