Were Robert Bates’ Training Records Falsified?

Back on April 2, Robert Bates, an insurance executive and reserve sheriff’s deputy in Tulsa County, Oklahoma; shot and killed Eric Harris while Harris was cuffed on the ground during a drug sting. Bates said he had intended to tase Harris, but accidentally pulled his service pistol instead of his Taser. This morning, the story took a new turn with this morning’s edition of the Tulsa World. The paper led with a report that suggested somebody–or a whole lot of somebodies–forged the records of Bates’ state-required training sessions.

Robert Bates on his way to being booked at the Tulsa County jail (courtesy ABC News)
Robert Bates on his way to being booked at the Tulsa County jail (courtesy ABC News)

Bates had to complete 480 hours of field training in order to maintain his status as an “advanced reserve” deputy. Yet, several sources told the World that Bates’ supervisors were under orders to give him training that he didn’t take and gun certifications he never really earned. Those sources also claimed that at least three of Bates’ supervisors were shuffled to less-desirable assignments when they refused to go along with the forgery. The sheriff’s office has released a summary of Bates’ training courses. However, it has not released records of who signed off on those courses, saying the matter is under investigation. Bates was charged on Monday with manslaughter; he turned himself in on Tuesday and is out on $25,000 bond.

On this morning’s edition of CNN’s New Day, World reporter Ziva Bransetter said that “if in fact there has been no pressure applied, no falsification of records,” the sheriff’s office really has no reason to stonewall. Earlier, the other reporter on the story, Dylan Goforth, said that the World had heard “almost immediately” from several different sources that Bates’ records had been falsified. The sheriff’s office adamantly denies the World’s claims; spokesman Shannon Clark told CNN that the fact the World didn’t name its sources should be reason to take the story with a grain of salt. On CNN’s “Legal View,” Bates’ lawyer, Clark Brewster, also expressed skepticism about the World’s claims, suggesting that the paper relied heavily on former deputies who filed wrongful termination suits against the sheriff’s office.

However, Brewster didn’t give an exact figure for the number of hours his client had accrued, even when CNN’s Randi Kaye pressed him on it. This is important, since Bates told investigators that he took 300 hours of field training–180 hours short of the requirement to maintain his certification. Which means that even if the records weren’t falsified–and the jury’s still out on that–there are some very valid reasons to question whether Bates was properly certified.

Bates claimed to have taken an advanced shooter response training course at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office–the fiefdom of Joe Arpaio. However, on Thursday afternoon, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Lisa Allen told the World that there is no record of Bates ever taking that course, and that out-of-state people aren’t eligible for it in any event. Earlier this week, Tulsa County sheriff Stanley Glanz told KFAQ radio in Tulsa that Bates had been qualified on three different guns–but his office couldn’t find the records for those certifications. The firearms instructor who qualified Bates now works for the Secret Service, and Glanz’ people are trying to get in touch with her.

Tulsa County officials have launched an internal review of the volunteer deputy program. But even if Bates’ records weren’t forged, it sounds like this program needs a severe overhaul if it’s retained at all. When you can’t ensure that gun certification records are properly maintained, that doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. Plus, how was Bates able to claim he took a course for which he wasn’t even eligible? That should have easily been verified with one phone call to Phoenix–it shouldn’t have taken this tragedy for a discrepancy like this to come to light. Of course, if it does turn out that someone falsified Bates’ records, everyone who was involved in his training better have lawyers on speed dial.

Darrell is a 30-something graduate of the University of North Carolina who considers himself a journalist of the old school. An attempt to turn him into a member of the religious right in college only succeeded in turning him into the religious right's worst nightmare--a charismatic Christian who is an unapologetic liberal. His desire to stand up for those who have been scared into silence only increased when he survived an abusive three-year marriage. You may know him on Daily Kos as Christian Dem in NC. Follow him on Twitter @DarrellLucus or connect with him on Facebook. Click here to buy Darrell a Mello Yello.