Tulsa FOP commends Betty Shelby for mentioning police training during testimony
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) - The jury will ultimately decide if Betty Shelby’s claim of following her training will affect the upcoming verdict. The Tulsa officer testified Monday, saying she was trained to act quickly if someone is reaching in their car. The Tulsa Fraternal Order of Police is standing behind her testimony.
“She articulated all of the reasons why she believed he was armed and why she took the action that she did that was in accordance with her training,” said Jerad Lindsey, chairman of the Tulsa FOP. “In times of heavy stress and fear and uncomfortability, we revert to our training and that’s what you want an officer to do and you want them to handle situations the way they’re trained to handle them.”
The FOP has been sharing a video on social media showing a man walking to his car with his hands up, then reaching in to pull out gun from a rolled down window. Lindsey said it’s the kind of scenario officers are training for.
“It takes tenths of seconds for someone to already make the mental decision to pull a weapon and shoot you,” said Lindsey.
The video resembles a similar scenario of the night Shelby shot and killed Terence Crutcher. However, police did determine Crutcher was unarmed and there is no clear evidence of him reaching through a window. FOP leaders said they did not produce the clip, but it does show how quick a situation can turn dangerous.
“When a policeman is pointing their gun at you and giving you very forceful commands, you should follow those,” said Lindsey.
The FOP chairman said it’s those examples of split second decisions police are training for just in case a situation like Shelby’s were to happen.
“If you don’t get control of that situation and start reacting to those cues, often there is a negative outcome for that situation,” said Lindsey.
Shelby’s trial returns to court tomorrow morning for closing statements.
