By JUSTIN JUOZAPAVICIUS, Associated Press
Weeks later, a 2009 memo leaked that raised concerns about the training for Bates, who has donated tens of thousands of dollars in equipment, vehicles and cash to the sheriff’s office. He has pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter, waived his preliminary hearing and is due in court July 6.
The grand jury petition calls for an investigation into whether Glanz neglected his duties and whether reservists who gave gifts to the sheriff were given special treatment. Already, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is looking into the shooting and a Texas-based firm has been hired by the county to audit the agency. The reserve deputy program has also been temporarily shelved while the training records of all 126 reserves are reviewed.
Terry Simonson, a spokesman for the sheriff, parries criticism that Glanz has cowered from the scrutiny of a grand jury, and called the process “unnecessary and a huge waste of taxpayer money.”
“No public official in his or her right mind welcomes a grand jury. Who could think that except someone who doesn’t understand it?” Simonson said. “The sheriff in no way, shape or form is afraid of the grand jury. He just doesn’t agree with Lewis’ demand.”
Lewis said a grand jury was the only recourse he and others had after Glanz refused to step down.
“What we’re seeing here is how the people who are in power are taking advantage of the system; the citizens have gone out and done what they were supposed to have done,” Lewis said. “We have followed every code of the law and you still see the people being railroaded again, you still see this.”
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