Former Tulsa Police Officer Looking For Work Outside Law Enforcement

By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- One former Tulsa police officer who was not one of the 35 officers rehired on Friday is Scott Osborn.

Osborn would have died during a traffic stop, had his vest not stopped the bullet from penetrating his heart. He said it has been hard for him to lose a job he loved and was willing to die for.

Osborn has traded in being Mr. Law and Order for being Mr. Mom. Ten-month-old Tommy is his youngest.

Osborn has always wanted to serve, so he joined the Air Force at age 20, working in security forces and remains in the guard today. He saw the Tulsa Police Department as a way to continue his service and joined in 2006. 

Osborn got shot during a traffic stop and for his bravery, was awarded the Purple Heart. He felt his career was on track, until he became one of the 124 officers laid off in January.

"It was pretty gut wrenching," said Osborn.

Knowing it would mean his job, Osborn still voted against the mayor's proposal to the officers. He says it would've affected the retirement of the veteran officers and he just couldn't do that after their years of hard work.

"For them to take a cut, that would affect the rest of their lives, that they've worked 35 years toward. I couldn't, people don't understand. That's a sacrifice we made for those guys," said Osborn.

Osborn spent the first couple of weeks hoping he would get his job back, but is now looking for work. Since moving isn't an option, he's going to look for jobs outside law enforcement, even though that's all he has ever known.

"I'm married, three boys, they're in the school system. Our parents both live here. Even thinking about going to Dallas or Austin, it sounds great, but there's childcare issues and this and that, it's just not feasible," said Osborn.

Osborn says he can't understand why Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett wouldn't accept any of the offers police made to save jobs. He says officers make sacrifices for the safety of citizens everyday and he wished city leaders appreciated that, instead of being willing to throw it away.

Osborn is 40th on the list to get rehired and the city called back 35 to rehire. Osborn is hoping Mayor Bartlett will accept the police union's latest offer and his dream of being a Tulsa police officer can get back on track.