Ripple effect from several FBI arrests at the Tulsa Police Department

Indictments are expected Monday against a Tulsa Police officer and a Tulsa Police records clerk. Both are accused of sharing confidential information with criminals. <br/><br/>News on 6 crime reporter

Wednesday, March 1st 2006, 10:38 am

By: News On 6

Indictments are expected Monday against a Tulsa Police officer and a Tulsa Police records clerk. Both are accused of sharing confidential information with criminals.

News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright says this could create a chilling effect for future witnesses. It's already hard enough to get witnesses and victims to cooperate with police and in court. Imagine if witnesses thought their address could just be handed over to the criminal they testified against?

Tulsa Police say because of this current situation, they now have new measures in place to make sure witnesses and victims are protected. The Tulsa Police Departmentâ€™s records office is a place citizens can get a copy of a traffic report and where officers file their reports after interviewing witnesses and victims. Agents arrested the office administrator on Tuesday.

They say DeShon Stanley was releasing confidential information to people who shouldn't have had it, including, convicted felons. An affidavit says Stanley gave an eyewitness' address to a prisoner. That prisoner was cellmates with a convicted robber who the eyewitness had identified in court.

Releasing this type of information violates department policy and the law. Tulsa Police Sgt Mike Huff: "It's been well-known there are safeguards but, as we came across a compromise in the system, we dealt with it and found another level of checks and balances."

Police say they need the public's help to solve crimes and they hope citizens will recognize this is an isolated incident and has been handled. Crimestoppers is a great tool that allows people to help police, but stay anonymous, but sometimes, that's not enough. "The eyewitness that sees a shooting or stabbing or murder really needs to come forward. And, it's a responsibility if you live here. You can't be a spectator when you're involved in an intimate level of a crime. We respect their privacy and do our best to safeguard it."

The other arrest involved Officer Rico Yarbrough, an 11-year veteran who most recently worked the gangs unit. He's accused of warning a suspected drug dealer the FBI was investigating him, even telling the dealer right before agents served a warrant at his house. That type of information sharing might not put witnesses or victims at risk, but could've gotten other officers hurt or killed.

The affadavits say there are wiretaps on the officer's police-issued cell phone and computer records from the records division to back up their case.

Remember, both these people only face charges at this point. There are many mixed emotions at the Tulsa Police Department. They want these people punished if they're guilty, they're also sorry it's creating a bad image for the department when when most officers are honest and hard-working.