Thirty-Five Tulsa Police Officers Back At Work

By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Tulsa's police force is 35 officers stronger. They were laid off in January, but were put back on the payroll Monday.

The officers are back on patrol, which is where they want to be, but they have concerns about getting laid off again and that's something none of them want.

Federal grant money that has been shifted away from gun crimes and meth labs will pay for the officer salaries for the next 17 months.

Officer Aubrie Thompson is one of 35 officers who took the oath of office Monday for the second time in her career. The first time was five years ago to the day. 

She originally wanted to study medicine, but then went on a ride along with an officer and was hooked for life.

"It's the only job I want to do. This is the only department I ever want to be on," said Thompson.

Aubrie and her husband are in the same squad together and even though she had served Tulsa citizens for five years, it wasn't enough to keep her from being laid off in January. It was devastating on its own, but then coupled with not working with her husband each day, it was especially hard.

"So, he got dressed and got off to work, it was kind of heartbreaking to see he was going on, continuing our lives and mine was on hold," said Thompson.

Financially, they were able to hold off just long enough, although she had started thinking about a career change. But now, thanks to federal grant money that was shifted away from gun crimes and meth labs, she knows she has a salary for the next 17 months and hopefully, even longer.

"I was thrilled and a little bit hesitant. What does this mean? What's the security like? I didn't think it would ever happen before and to happen again would be devastating," said Thompson.

The 35 officers will go on patrol. That will allow two people to return to each sex crimes, child crisis and family violence, since those detectives had been sent to the field to handle 911 calls since the layoffs in January. 

As for the 87 other officers still unemployed, the mayor and the police union will meet on Thursday for more negotiations.

The City of Tulsa rejected the union's latest proposal on Friday. 

5/26/2010 Related story: City Of Tulsa Rejects FOP's Latest Offer To Rehire Laid Off Officers 

At issue, the length of the agreement and the money. The police union has submitted ideas that would save money from now until the end of the fiscal year, about four months. But the police union wants something that will last longer, through next year.