Tulsa Officer Bill Yelton Released From Jail After Acquittal

Staff Reports

TULSA, Oklahoma -- After 23 hours of deliberations, jurors in the case of two Tulsa police officers accused of corruption reached a verdict Wednesday.

Officer Bill Yelton was acquitted on all counts and Jeff Henderson was acquitted on all but 8.

8/23/2011 Related Story: Tulsa Police Trial: Henderson Guilty On 8 Counts, Yelton Acquitted

Yelton has now been released from jail after spending nearly 16 months there for crimes he did not commit.

About two dozen of Yelton's close family and friends were waiting outside the jail to greet him when he was released about an hour after he was found not guilty on all 8 counts.

His attorney said Yelton is a hero and widely regarded across the country as a top cop. His three children are just glad to have him home.

"Kids are just glad to have their Dad back finally. They believed in him this whole time," said Jennifer Yelton, the ex-wife of Bill Yelton.

Yelton has been suspended from the Tulsa Police department without pay, since he was charged.

Chief Chuck Jordan says he will be reinstated with back-pay, but Yelton will have to complete an administrative review to see if he will return to work.

"The chief and the administrators will find the same things that we did and the jury did and he will be reinstated post haste," said Scott Graham, Yelton's Attorney.

His attorneys say after all Yelton has been through, he's still deciding if he wants to return to the police force.

"If he doesn't... If he decides not to be an officer anymore it's a sad day for the city of Tulsa," Graham said.

But that's a decision for another day. For now, he's simply embracing his loved ones and enjoying his freedom.