D.A.'s Office Reviewing Drug Cases Involving Indicted Tulsa Officers

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, Oklahoma -- As the investigation into the Tulsa Police Department continues, the ripple effect is being felt in the Tulsa County District Attorney's Office.

All drug convictions that have involved officers indicted in U.S. District Court in the corruption investigation are being reviewed, according to Tulsa County D.A. Tim Harris.

As of late September, the corruption investigation has led to 19 people either being released from prison or having their charges dropped.

Harris said his office is also reviewing the cases involving officers who have been identified as cooperating in the corruption probe.

"We are placing the highest priorities for review on those cases where defendants continually maintained their innocence and were convicted at trial, and those in which defendants are currently in prison," Harris said in his monthly newsletter.

9/24/2010 Related Story: Lawyer For Former Indicted TPD Officer Calls Crime Ring Connection 'Ludicrous'

Harris said they review convictions to find any indication of potential officer misconduct, first determining if the officer involved was the sole witness or a significant witness in the case.

"If we receive credible information regarding the alleged misconduct of any police officer in a case, we will certainly look into it," Harris said.

"The more officers that are implicated, the more cases and defendants are potentially impacted."

The full scope of the investigation into Tulsa police corruption is not yet known, "but the initial reports are very troubling," he said.