Tulsa Police Chief: Department Working On Special Unit Reassignments

By Emory Bryan, The News On 6    

TULSA, OK -- Tulsa's Police chief said Monday he would know by the end of the week which officers would be reassigned to street duty because they've been in specialty assignments for too long.

Chief Chuck Jordan said the department is developing a list of officers who have been working mainly in detective jobs for 15 years or more. The department is now required to rotate officers out of those jobs as part of a discrimination lawsuit settlement.

Jordan said while the actual transfers won't happen until August, the Tulsa Police Department is working on the list to let officers know as soon as possible, and he should have the list by Thursday.

An agreement between the City of Tulsa and the Black Officers Coalition included an agreement to impose term limits on officers in certain assignments, to create opportunities for officers in lower ranks to fill the positions.

The Fraternal Order of Police has said it would fight the agreement in court, based on their belief that it violates their exclusive right to negotiate terms of employment.

5/20/2010 Related Story: Discrimination Lawsuit Results To Shake Up Tulsa Police Special Units