Politics

Tulsa Judge Says Grand Jury Can Review Sheriff’s Operations

Published

11 years ago

July 1, 2015

Marq Lewis, of We the People, and attorney Laurie Phillips celebrate with a court ruling after a hearing about the petition seeking a grand jury investigation into Sheriff Stanley Glanz at the Tulsa County Courthouse, Tuesday, June 30, 2015, in Tulsa, Okla. (Mike Simons/Tulsa World via AP)

JUSTIN JUOZAPAVICIUS, Associated Press

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — A grand jury should review operations at an Oklahoma sheriff’s office that sent onto the streets a 73-year-old reserve deputy who shot and killed an unarmed and restrained suspect, a judge ruled Tuesday.

District Judge Rebecca Nightingale ordered a grand jury to convene on July 20 after denying a motion by attorneys for Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz to disqualify the petition because circulators didn’t attach a 33-page summary of specific allegations against the sheriff to the signature pages. Glanz, who was attending the National Sheriffs’ Association annual conference in Baltimore, said in a statement that he would explore his legal options when he returned to Tulsa.

The petition was signed by more than 6,600 voters who want a grand jury to investigate whether Glanz neglected his duties and whether reservists who gave gifts to the sheriff were given special treatment. Only 5,000 signatures were required.

Nightingale ruled from the bench after a daylong hearing that there was nothing in the law requiring that the court-approved grand jury petition and signature pages be attached to each other. She said that if she were to dismiss the petition filed by the civil rights group We The People Oklahoma it would be putting “form over substance.”

The petition drive began after ex-volunteer deputy Robert Bates shot and killed Eric Harris on April 2 after Harris ran from authorities during a gun-sales sting operation. Bates has said he confused his handgun and stun gun and has pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter in Harris’ death.

Weeks after the shooting, a 2009 memo was leaked that raised concerns about the training for Bates, a friend of Glanz who has donated tens of thousands of dollars in equipment, vehicles and cash to the sheriff’s office.

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.

Marq Lewis with We The People Oklahoma called Tuesday’s win “a milestone” and a victory for residents.

“It was good to see the citizens win for a change,” a jubilant Lewis said outside the courtroom. “Right now, we’re just going to celebrate.”

Glanz said in a statement that while he’s not afraid to face a grand jury, the process used by the petitioners didn’t follow what he said were “very clear and unambiguous laws governing grand jury proceedings.”

Glanz stated he has time to consider his options, citing a state law that prohibits the convening of a grand jury either 30 days before or 10 days after any election for state or county office. There is a special election July 14 to fill a position for a vacant state representative seat.

Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said he has asked the state attorney general to appoint another prosecutor to coordinate the grand jury investigation because the local prosecutor has traditionally provided legal counsel and advice to the sheriff’s office. “In keeping with my office’s duty and responsibility to protect the integrity of the investigative process, it is incumbent to avoid the appearance of any conflict,” Kunzweiler said in a statement.

Attorneys for Glanz seemed to spend much of Tuesday’s hearing arguing semantics. Attorney John Carwile said the signature pages contained only a brief summary that was misleading and too general.

But Lewis disputed that, testifying that attaching the 33-page petition to each signature sheet would be too costly for his group, which operates mainly with volunteer support. Lewis’ attorney estimated it would cost around $3,300 to generate some 16,800 copies.

“It’s almost the cost of a car,” Lewis testified.

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Mayor Barbara Lee Holds Special State of the City Address in Deep East Oakland

In partnership with Rise East and the 40×40 Council, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee held a special 2026 State of the City East Oakland community conversation on Oct. 14. The purpose of bringing a State of the City address directly to the community was to celebrate East Oakland, highli

Published

6 days ago

October 19, 2026

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Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, left. moderated a community chat with (l.to r.) Selena Wilson, CEO of the East Oakland Youth Development Center; Carolyn “CJ” Johnson, CEO of the Black Cultural Zone; Dr. Noha Aboelata, CEO of Roots Health Center and Greg Hodge, CEO of the Brotherhood of Elders.

By Special to The Post

In partnership with Rise East and the 40×40 Council, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee held a special 2026 State of the City East Oakland community conversation on Oct. 14.

The purpose of bringing a State of the City address directly to the community was to celebrate East Oakland, highlight the work underway, and look ahead to what neighbors, local businesses, youth, funders, community organizations, and partners can accomplish together.

Held at the Roots Community Health/Parker Elementary School Campus at 7929 Ney Ave., the event was emceed by special guest Mark Curry, Oakland native, comedian, and actor.

Lee shared how Rise East and the 40×40 Council have brought together the knowledge, relationships, and resources of people and organizations committed to East Oakland.

Residents bring lived experience, community organizations bring trusted relationships and philanthropy, and businesses bring resources and opportunity, she said, then turned to the government’s role: public investment, services and policy.

But, Lee intoned, City Hall has a responsibility to help connect those efforts.

“I am committed to listening to residents, working across departments and sectors, and helping open doors to opportunity. We must connect neighborhood priorities to the decisions we make about housing, economic development, safety, health and our young people.

City Hall “must be accountable for the results,” Lee said. “The measure of success is what families experience: greater stability, more opportunity and a stronger sense that they belong and have a future here.

“Tonight is an opportunity to listen to the leaders doing this work, learn what is making a difference and identify where we can do more together,” the mayor said.

Lee went on to moderate a ‘fireside chat’ on the theme: Building Oakland’s Future Together — From Neighborhood Investment to Community Empowerment with:

Selena Wilson, CEO, East Oakland Youth Development Center
Greg Hodge, CEO, Brotherhood of Elders
Carolyn “CJ” Johnson, CEO, Black Cultural Zone
Dr. Noha Aboelata, CEO, Roots Health Center

Mayor Barbara Lee’s media relations department provided this report.

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Opponents Smear Effective African American Transit Director as Election Nears

Incumbent Joel Young is defending his seat on the AC Transit Board against allegations of harassment stemming from a public interaction in 2026. Supporters of the director cite his record of securing $600 million for bus services and leading civil rights initiatives as evidence of his effectiveness. They argue the accusations regarding a group photo interaction have been politically weaponized by opponents to influence the Ward 3 election.

Published

6 days ago

October 19, 2026

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By Kitty Kelly Epstein

I am an academic and a community activist. I take women’s issues, including workplace harassment and discrimination, seriously. I have been following the AC Transit Ward 3 election and have become concerned about what I believe is a serious injustice.

Joel Young is an effective AC Transit director. He has secured more than $600 million for local bus service and fare affordability. He led the Freedom Bus Project, integrating civil rights history, art and transit. He was presiding over the board of AC transit when it won the 2023 Outstanding Public System Award, and he raised $1 million for the hydrogen fuel cell bus program. These are just a few of his accomplishments.

I reviewed the allegations of unwanted physical contact and harassment made by AC Transit Director Sarah Syed against Director Joel Young, I believe the events of Sept. 24, 2025, have been characterized in a way that does not accurately reflect what occurred.

That interaction took place during a group photo after celebrating the life of a longtime Board member who passed away. From the video I reviewed, it appears that individuals were consoling one another and exchanging hugs in a public setting surrounded by numerous witnesses.

Young’s interaction with Syed appears consistent with those expressions of sympathy and it appears that Young was attempting to extend a gesture of goodwill toward Syed.

I am concerned by how this incident has been recently used as a political tool to influence the outcome of the AC Transit Ward 3 election and support Young’s opponent.

Syed and her supporters launched a targeted political campaign, first through the Alameda County Democratic Party and subsequently by organizing a letter from a group of majority-white elected officials who have endorsed Young’s opponent against Young, who is Africa American.
Furthermore, this manufactured controversy distracts voters from the critical issues facing AC Transit. The public deserves a substantive debate on service reliability, ridership recovery, passenger and operator safety, financial stability, regional equity, and future transportation infrastructure. The electorate should be evaluating which candidate possesses the judgment, experience, and vision to lead AC Transit forward – not reacting to a distorted personal interaction.

Regardless of one’s political views or preferred candidate, allegations of harassment should never be weaponized for electoral purposes. We all know that exaggerated or unsupported accusations can undermine public understanding of, and trust in, efforts to address genuine sexual harassment and violence.

Kitty Kelly Epstein