TULSA – More information about the Tulsa police officer involved in the fatal shooting of Terence Crutcher was brought to light this week, giving insight as to who Officer Betty Shelby is and where she previously worked.
Betty Shelby applied to work at the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office in 2007, according to official documents.
SPECIAL SECTION: Fatal shooting of Terence Crutcher
Her application shows that she was born in Poteau, Oklahoma and graduated from Mannford High School in 1992. She wrote that she was "expected to receive" a Bachelor of Science and Biology degree from Northeastern State University in 2007, according to the document.
Shelby was with the Oklahoma Air National Guard from May of 2000 to October of 2000 as a trainee. On her application for TCSO she stated that she left training because of a knee injury.
When asked on the TCSO application if she’s "ever possessed or used illegal drugs," Shelby checked "yes." She also checked “yes” when asked if she “had a victim protection order filed against you, or any action pending?”
READ BETTY SHELBY'S APPLICATION FOR TCSO
When asked to expand upon Shelby’s response her application, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office sent two statements she made regarding her answer to those questions.
According to Ofc. Shelby, she tried marijuana on “two separate occasions” when she was 18 years old at social gatherings
“I have never used or experimented with any other illegal drugs before and since that time,” said Betty Shelby in her statement.
When asked to explain the protection order question, Shelby wrote that in 1993 her then boyfriend, Darren Mills, damaged her vehicle with a shovel and she reciprocated the damage to his vehicle.
Officer Shelby went on to explain saying that after the pair broke up, she went to the Creek County courthouse to file an emergency ex-parte against Mills and discovered he had taken the same action earlier in the day.
On the day the pair were scheduled to go before a judge, says Shelby, they both agreed to seek a dismissal of the ex-parte.
Then in 2000, Shelby says she was involved in a custody battle with her ex-husband. She says the decision was appealed all the way to the State Supreme Court and she “won every appeal that was put before the courts.”
Shelby continued to clarify saying that in 2002, she and her ex-husband were set to have the last court hearing when his wife filed a protective order in Le Flore County against Shelby.
Shelby wrote saying “ … his wife filed a protective order in Le Flore County against me claiming that I had made harassing phone calls to her residence. This was done in an attempt to discredit my character.”
Officer Shelby said she appeared in court to contest the request for a protective order and the protective order was denied
During her time with the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Shelby received a CLEET OC Spray Training certification, a report writing certification and completed the 480 hour field training officer’s program certification.
She also participated in the Citizen’s Academy as a deputy in 2011. In 2008, Chief George Haralson commended Shelby for compiling a “comprehensive Court Deputy’s manual” for new deputies to use.
Shelby, or Deputy Shelby at the time, resigned from the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office in 2011. In her resignation letter, Shelby does not state her reason for leaving but says the resignation was effective starting November 30, 2011.
READ THE ENTIRE RESIGNATION LETTER HERE
The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office says they have no record of “any disciplinary actions taken against Mrs. Shelby.” They did send one report of use of force. In the document, it claims that Shelby, who was a deputy at the time, entered a home to “serve felony warrants” for a subject who was allegedly hiding from deputies.
READ ENTIRE TULSA COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT USE OF FORCE REPORT HERE
Currently TPD Police Officer Betty Shelby has been placed on administrative leave with pay and a full investigation of the incident is underway.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
Download our free app for Apple and Android and Kindle devices.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.
