the shield - tulsa county sheriff's...

THE SHIELD“A Publication For The Office By The Office”

December 2016 Vol. 7 No. 12 Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office www.tcso.org

SHERIFF VIC REGALADOWINS ELECTION!

A little over a year ago, I made the decision to run for sheriff. Although it required leaving a successful career with the Tulsa Police Department, significant changes to mine and my family’s lives and after four different elections, I have never regretted that decision. I am grateful to be a part of a proud organization like the sheriff ’s office and equally proud to be working side by side with each of you.

As many of you know, the Sheriff ’s Office faces a great deal of obstacles moving forward. We are still under intense scrutiny. Although we have made great strides, we still face significant issues. Moving forward always requires change. Unfortunately, the word “change” oftentimes creates negative undertones as most people, especially in law enforcement circles, do not like change. Hopefully, you will see that the “change” I am referring to is positive, and will allow us to find solutions to the obstacles we face and create opportunities that will allow for positive growth within the Tulsa County Sheriff ’s Office.

Over the last seven months we have made changes to the reserve program requirements. The remaining reserve deputies can continue their valuable service with confidence. Disciplinary protocol has changed, making it less ambiguous but consistent and fair. The Community Safety Institute (CSI) is currently assisting us with revamping our policies and procedures and should be ready for our review soon. (Continued on page 2)

2 Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office

(Continued from page 1)

We will begin implementation of a basic investigators course that will provide further instruction on search warrant preparation, interviews and interrogations, search and seizure, and other relevant topics. Once in place, this course will be a prerequisite for anyone who wishes to apply for Criminal Investigations Unit. Additionally, we will schedule a week long supervisory school that will address various topics to include administrative guidelines, disciplinary action, and tactical decision-making.

Mark your calendars for April 8th of 2017, because we have reserved a banquet hall in anticipation of holding a TCSO appreciation gala. This will be a formal event complete with a keynote speaker, dinner, music, & dancing. The event will give the office an opportunity to get together in a fun atmosphere and we hope this will become an annual event.

We are exploring the possibility of selling the Faulkner Building. There are currently two options we are considering should the sale come to fruition. One option would be moving our base of operations to the training center. This option would prove to be somewhat challenging as it would require additional structures to be built and would create a separation between the courthouse and the David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center. The second option would be to move to an existing structure downtown. The benefits of this option would be maintaining our presence downtown, additional space allowing room for growth without additional construction work, and could potentially occur faster.

In the grand scheme of things, if we are successful in either of these options, it would allow us the ability to complete and utilize the training center at its full potential, continue moving forward with the 911 center, update our facilities to provide better service to Tulsa County, and, at the same time, be cost effective.

In closing, I want to thank all of you for your continued commitment to serving Tulsa County. Law enforcement is a tough job by its very nature, but you only need to watch the news to see that we are dealing with, not just difficult, but deadly times. I urge you to remain vigilant in your duties and remember complacency kills!

I want to remind you that locally the overwhelming majority of the citizens you serve are completely behind you and recognize your service. So whether you work inside David L. Moss, in patrol or some other facet of the office, your continued commitment is appreciated and needed! I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you and God bless.

Dillard’s Law Enforcement & Firefighters Appreciation Discount Days!

On November 30th and December 1st, receive 20% off. Go to Customer Service to receive your Shopping Pass with presentation of your I.D.

SHERIFF VIC REGALADOWINS ELECTION!

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Letters of Appreciation LaDonna Penny, David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center, received a letter from Amanda Harden, Account Consultant with Oklahoma Blood Institute for leading the way and coordinating all aspects of the Bedlam Blood Drive on 10/20/16. In all, 23 caring people stepped up to help and 20 of them were eligible to donate blood. They are to be commended for sharing their valuable time and life-saving gifts. Patients in some 160 hospitals across our area and their loved ones had one less thing to be concerned about while facing a serious health crisis.

(Pictured above) DO April Mitchell prepares to give blood at Bedlam Blood Drive

(Pictured above) L-R Ladonna Penny, Misty Cupps and Barbara Garrison help in Bedlam Blood Drive

The “Bedlam Blood Drive” was a big success at the jail. Lots of donors rolled up their sleeves to donate to the Oklahoma Blood Institute.

Years of Service Recognition

20 YEARS OF SERVICEDeputy Jeff Whitfield

5 YEARS OF SERVICEDeputy Guy Johnson

Detention Officer Adam JonesDeputy Sara Morataya

Deputy Ivan Patino


Community Involvement


(Pictured above)Deputy Osman with Eliot Elementary Pre Schoolers

(Pictured right)Deputy Marcus Berry is acknowledged by Mayor Elect G.T. Bynum for years with School Reading Program

(Pictured above) Sheriff Regalado and Undersheriff Brown spent time at the Home Builders Association Military Appreciation Day with Commissioner Mike Thompson, Department of Public Safety. TCSO thanks all who served our country.

(Pictured left) Deputy Truewell helping Girl Scouts receive their “drug free” patch. Great job girls!

(Pictured above) SWAT with Wounded Warrior at DAV5k Run


Community Involvement


Our History TCSO History

“Public Enemy Among Us”Our Encounters with Charles Arthur “Pretty Boy” Floyd

Part III Tulsa officers had interviewed Mrs. Ruby Floyd, aka Ruby Hamilton, and her 7-year-old son Jackie for quite some time. Other than the omission by young Jackie, when he was shown a photograph of his father, Ruby would confirm only that she was “Pretty Boy” Floyd’s wife and that Jackie was Pretty Boy’s son. Afterwards, she refused to speak, vowing to remain silent. When officers arrested Ruby at the Union Bus Station, they did so before she purchased bus tickets for her and her son. For this reason officers had no clue as to where Floyd and Birdwell might be headed. Ruby was adamant that she had no idea where the two wanted men might be going, telling officers she had only been a housewife to Floyd, totally unaware of his illegal criminal activities. Authorities apparently didn’t believe her and locked her and her young son up in the city jail.

City jailers allowed young Jackie to have his favorite toy, a toy gun, while he was locked up in the city jail with his mother. Jackie also told reporters that although he enjoyed being out of school he knew his teacher was going to be really mad at him for missing his classes! He spent most of his time climbing the cell bars like a jungle gym while his mother spoke with reporters about her life with “Pretty Boy” Floyd. Ruby told reporters that she and Floyd had met in Oklahoma City when Floyd was 20, and she was just 16.

On Saturday, February 13, 1932, the Tulsa Tribune reported that after the two dangerous shootouts with “Pretty Boy” Floyd, Tulsa Police Commissioner Thomas I. Munroe had ordered 6 more machine guns and he also ordered new 50-round magazines to replace the agencies’ smaller 17-round magazines. He was quoted as stating; “We’ll fight fire with fire.” In the meantime, during her incarceration, Ruby had given up her attempts to use her alias of Hamilton and started going by her real last name of Floyd. After being held about two days, “Pretty Boy” Floyd’s wife and son were released from jail on Sunday the 14th. Ruby and Jackie returned to the rental house on Young Street, Jackie returned to class and resumed his studies at John Burroughs School, and soon, public enemy number one would also return.

A few days later, Tulsa law enforcement officials were informed by Kansas City authorities in Missouri that the bullet which was sent to them for ballistics comparison did not match any rounds fired during the attempted bank robbery there. Floyd and Birdwell had engaged in a gun battle with the four Tulsa officers on the previous Monday night when Tulsa detective Wilbur Wilson was wounded. It was the belief of local Tulsa officers that Floyd and Birdwell had taken part in the Kansas City, Missouri bank robbery before traveling through Tulsa and getting involved in the gun battle here. It did not mean Floyd and Birdwell were not a part of the attempted bank robbery as Tulsa officers had believed, it just meant that officers could not prove their participation through the bullet’s ballistics as it was hoped.

It was also learned that “Pretty Boy” Floyd had been spotted near Sand Springs on Friday the 12th, and then again the following Sunday night, the 14th, in the small community of Leonard, just south of Bixby. Roy Randolph, the operator of the small filling station in Leonard, told authorities that “Pretty Boy” Floyd and another unknown man, presumably George Birdwell, had stopped at his station that Sunday afternoon for gas. He stated that he had also observed Floyd’s companion holding a machine gun between his knees. Randolph added that there was also a blue sedan that had pulled in behind Floyd and his companion with three male occupants. The blue sedan matched the description given by a man in Sand Springs the previous Friday who had been forced to change a tire on the car and he identified “Pretty Boy’ Floyd as being among this group of men. Throughout the next few weeks “Pretty Boy” Floyd sightings continued in and around several communities in Tulsa County. Local law enforcement had set up a watch on Floyd’s house on Young Street and on Saturday, March 26th, someone picked up Ruby and Jackie before sunrise and drove away. (Continued on page 6)

By Retired Sgt. Lyndall ColeTCSO Historian



Our History TCSO History

(Continued from page 5)

It was not known where the Floyd family went when they were picked up outside their house early that Saturday morning, or who the person was that picked them up. However, over a week later, on Friday, April 8th, it was discovered that Ruby and her son had arrived at a small farm south of Bixby, a farm owned by her father, Ben Hargraves. This information was eventually given as a tip to a man named E. A. Kelly.

E. A. Kelly served as sheriff in McIntosh County for six years and was responsible for the capture of five bank robbers and six murderers during his tenure as Sheriff. He resigned from office to pursue wanted outlaws, one of them was Charles Arthur “Pretty Boy” Floyd. Even after his resignation as Sheriff, Kelly assisted area lawmen with the capture of six more bank robbers, he probably thought Floyd would be just one more.

Kelly, after receiving the tip of Ruby Floyd and her son’s arrival at the Hargraves farm, he also received information that “Pretty Boy” Floyd was supposed to meet his wife there the following night. Kelly felt confident about this tip regarding a Floyd family reunion and set a plan in motion for his own type of reunion for the most wanted man in the nation. Accompanied by, Private Detective A. B. Cooper, Okmulgee County Sheriff Jim Starmont, State Agent Crockett Long and a detail of city police officers from Tulsa, Kelly set up around the Ben Hargraves farm near Bixby to await Floyd and Birdwell’s arrival.

By Retired Sgt. Lyndall ColeTCSO Historian

“Public Enemy Among Us”

Retired TCSO Employee Loraine Mathes passed away on November 8, 2016. Loraine served as an employee of the Tulsa County Sheriff ’s Office for a combined total of 33 years. We will miss her!

In Memoriam Retirement NewsDeputy Connie Herriman retired on

October 31, 2016 (Pictured below)



Prep time: 10 minutes• Cook time: 50 minutes• Yield: Serves 4-6 as a side dish

Ingredients• 1/3 pound bacon, or 1 ham hock plus 2 Tbsp oil• 1 celery stalk, diced• 1 small yellow onion, diced• 1 small green pepper, diced• 2 garlic cloves, minced• 1/2 pound dried black-eyed peas, about 2 cups• 1 bay leaf• 2 teaspoons dried thyme• 1 heaping teaspoon Cajun seasoning• Salt• 2 cups long-grain rice• Scallions or green onions for garnish Preparation1. If you are using bacon, cut it into small pieces and cook it slowly in a medium pot over medium-low heat. If

you are using a ham hock, heat the oil in the pot. Once the bacon is crispy (or the oil is hot), increase the heat to medium-high and add the celery, onion, and green pepper and sauté until they begin to brown, about 4-5 minutes. Add the garlic, stir well and cook for another 1-2 minutes.

2. Add the black-eyed peas, bay leaf, thyme and Cajun seasoning and cover with 4 cups of water. If you are using the ham hock, add it to the pot and bring to a simmer. Cook for 30 minutes to an hour, or longer if needed, until the peas are tender (not mushy).

3. While the black-eyed peas are cooking, cook the rice separately according to package instructions.4. When the peas are tender, strain out the remaining cooking water. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Taste the peas

for salt and add more if needed. If using a ham hock, remove it from the pot, pull off the meat, and return the meat to the pot.

5. Serve the dish either by placing a ladle-full of black-eyed peas over steamed rice, or by mixing the two together in a large bowl. Garnish with chopped green onions. Serve with some type of greens, kale, mustard or collard.

Hoppin’ John Recipe

Mistletoe is an aerial parasite that has no roots of its own. It lives off the tree to which it attaches itself and, without that tree, it would die. Mistletoe is a Christmas symbol of our love which derives from and exists only because God loves us. God, Who is Love, created us in love and caused us to be able to love.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Meaning of Mistletoe at Christmas & New Years Day


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