Tulsa Interim Police Chief: 'I Was Not Threatened' By U.S. Attorney

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- The Tulsa Police Department has issued a statement in regards to a Federal investigation on corruption in Tulsa's drug unit.

Tulsa Interim Police Chief Chuck Jordan said in a news release he was not threatened by the U.S. Attorney in charge of the investigation.

Read the statement:

Due to on-going Federal and internal investigations, we cannot comment about any discussions that have transpired between the Tulsa Police Department and the U.S. Attorney's Office. Divulging any information or making any comment could tarnish these investigations and would violate the integrity of the Justice System.

I will say unequivocally that I was not threatened by Jane Duke or any member from the Department of Justice. – Chief Chuck Jordan

We will continue to cooperate with the U.S. Attorney's Office during the entirety of these investigations.

The statement comes a day after two Tulsa police officers asked a judge to throw out their indictments. Attorneys for Bill Yelton and Jeff Henderson accuse Jane Duke, the U.S. Attorney in charge of their case, of misconduct.

They filed a motion Monday, requested a hearing. The motion accuses Duke and her team of making a fair trial for both officers "irretrievably impossible." It goes on to say she has "distorted the truth-finding process" and "compromised the integrity of the trial."

Read the motion

8/9/2010  Related Story: Attorneys For Two Indicted Tulsa Police Officers Accuse Federal Prosecutor Of Misconduct

The attorneys say Duke has threatened to prosecute any Tulsa officer who tries to help the indicted officers, is using the grand jury to intimidate officers and has threatened to send one of her own witnesses to prison for 10 years if that witness doesn't testify against one of the indicted officers.

Yelton and Henderson were indicted in July. They're accused of everything from drug possession to intent to sell, to tampering with federal witnesses and perjury. Yelton and Henderson remain behind bars.

8/6/2010  Related Story: Two Indicted Tulsa Police Officers Denied Bond

8/5/2010  Related Story: Tulsa Police Chief: No Talking To Anyone But Federal Investigators

Meanwhile the City Council Tuesday morning met for the first time to discuss the corruption scandal in the Tulsa Police Department.

Jordan told councilors he was making changes that he believed would prevent future problems and detect them if they occurred.

A couple of possibilities mentioned were using court records to identify officers who arrest an unusual number of suspects who are eventually cleared and asking defense attorneys to report problem officers.

Jordan rejected a suggestion from a councilor that a "lie detector" be used to detect problems.