Former reserve officers plead no contest to gun, impersonation charges

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Two former Jennings reserve police officers pleaded no contest to gun-possession and impersonation counts for allegedly carrying guns onto the grounds of a Tulsa school in April.

Thomas Pittman received a two-year deferred sentence Monday, meaning he can have his case dismissed with no resulting conviction if he completes a two-year probation.

Sentencing for Peter Vernon Broderick is set for Jan. 2.

The two, both 24 and from Tulsa, allegedly brought guns onto the grounds of a Tulsa school on the anniversary of the Columbine school massacre in Colorado.

Both officers pleaded no contest Monday to possessing a handgun on school property, a felony, and impersonating an officer, a misdemeanor.

As part of a plea agreement, a felony count of improper use of a weapon by an off-duty reserve officer was dismissed against each defendant.

Investigators said the men went to East Central and Memorial high schools on April 20 and indicated that they were law enforcement officers who were assigned to do security checks at area schools.

But a police affidavit said neither had such authorization.

The two were fired from their volunteer positions with the Jennings police department on April 24.