Oops. I thought it was my stun gun. (Picture heavy)

[Savannahmann]

A 73 year old wannabe Deputy (reserve deputy) accidentally shot and killed a man after mistaking his pistol with his taser.

So this octogenarian cop.



Shot and killed this man by accident.



With one of these.



When he thought it was one of these.



So what happened? We don't have much information, but we have this snippet.

Major Shannon Clark told CNN: 'They were struggling trying to get him into custody, he ran up trying to use a less lethal device, trying to get the situation under control, inadvertently he discharged a round from his service weapon.'

He added: 'Did an accident happen? Sure. But is it accredited to his age? Or was it accredited to the rapidly evolving situation? I guess that will be determined in the investigation.'

Bates, who has been a reserve since 2008, is the chief executive of Robert C Bates LLC, a Tulsa-based insurance company, who worked as an officer assigned to the Violent Crimes Task Force.

He also spent time with the Tulsa Police Auxiliary.

So let me get this straight. The Police are letting insurance salesmen be cops, and run around assigned to the violent crimes task force. Oh wait, I forgot. They're letting Senior Citizen Insurance Salesmen be cops, and run around with the Violent Crimes task force. Well I guess they wouldn't get many volunteers if the reserve deputies were limited to crossing guards, traffic duty, or parking meter enforcement.

Well, accidents happen man. The good news is that if the Reserve Deputy is sued, you just know he has plenty of liability insurance to cover him.

[Revanchist]

1. You get what you pay for

Spend some money and hire actual officers if your staff is that short.

Although the article states he used to be a full time police officer it doesn't state how long ago that was. I'd be leery of have too many reservists who are doing this for kicks since it is an unpaid position.

[Savannahmann]

4. There again he was a reserve officer

The Tulsa Police Auxiliary. So while National Guardsmen used to be disparaged as Weekend Warriors, does that make him a weekend cop?

https://www.tulsapolice.org/join-tpd/tpd-reserve/tpd-reserve-history.aspx

His primary employment was as an Insurance Salesman, and he started his own agency, where he was and is the CEO. Apparently being a cop is a hobby. It's a shame he doesn't have a less destructive hobby.

This would be one where nobody got hurt, and he would have a sense of accomplishment, a couple years later, granted, but far more accomplishment than running around as a wannabe cop.

Miniature W-32 motor.

He could paint, or draw, or sketch, or write poetry. Instead as a Pensioner he is running around with the Violent Crimes Task Force. Really?

[Revanchist]

6. The national guard are paid for their service

and can draw a pension if they serve long enough. That and I doubt they have anyone that age humping a pack on the weekend.

[KittyWampus]

7. My issue is probably less him running w/VCTF as it is doing so with a lethal weapon.

[Logical]

2. I guarantee no jail time for this idiot. n

[Revanchist]

5. You sure about that?

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007542826427&sk=photos

[Scruffy Rumbler]

8. Which one do you think is the victim?

[procon]

9. Why does the city set the bar so low for their police?

Or maybe it was nepotism or cronyism that allowed this fool to put a gun and and a badge, but whatever it was he had no business acting out his fantasy cops dream. A man that age, especially someone who appears to be as overweight as the photo shows, could never pass a physical fitness test, not to mention his questionable marksmanship skills. He not only posed a risk and a liability to himself, but to his fellow officers and the public.


From the City of Tulsa Job-Simulation Test:

Suspect-Pursuit Simulation

Duck-Under Obstacle

Obstacle Weave

Stair Climb
Six-Foot Fence
Four-Foot Fence

Suspect-Subduing Simulation
Dummy Drag
Overpowering Suspect
Handcuffing Simulation


He would have failed everything.

[Revanchist]

10. now, now, if you interpret overpowering suspect as sitting on them

he might pass that one.

As someone who feels that he needs to loose at least 100 lbs I feel that I am entitled to say that.

And is that for both the real cops and the volunteers or just the paid employees? Their might be different standards for the deputy dawgs

[Liberal_in_LA]

11. kick