Tulsa Taxpayers Continue Paying Millions In Police Misconduct Cases

Tulsa Taxpayers Continue Paying Millions In Police Misconduct Cases

Tulsa taxpayers continue to shoulder the cost of police misconduct and employment lawsuits, with another high-dollar legal payout raising new questions about accountability and whether meaningful reforms have been made within the Tulsa Police Department.

The latest case follows a series of costly settlements that have required the City of Tulsa to pay millions of dollars while attorneys and community members question whether policy changes have kept pace with the growing financial impact.

Tulsa Police Lawsuits Continue To Cost Taxpayers

Attorney Mitchell Garrett, who represented former Tulsa Police Department employee Tracie Lewis in her employment discrimination lawsuit against the city, says the case could have been resolved long before it resulted in an estimated $850,000 cost to taxpayers.

Garrett told KTUL News the lawsuit likely "could have gone away for 10%" of what the city will ultimately pay after legal fees are finalized.

During a June meeting of the Tulsa City Council, council members approved payment of a portion of Garrett's attorney fees. However, discussion centered on funding for legal claims rather than whether changes had been implemented inside the police department to prevent similar lawsuits in the future.

Garrett said he is unaware of any significant procedural changes within either the Tulsa Police Department or the city's legal office since the case concluded. He also noted that additional attorney fees are still pending, which could further increase the total cost to taxpayers.

Calls For Accountability Continue To Grow

The latest lawsuit follows another record-setting legal payout involving the City of Tulsa.

Earlier this year, the city agreed to a $26 million settlement with Henry Jamerson, who was wrongfully convicted and later exonerated after spending years in prison. The settlement is believed to be one of the largest wrongful conviction settlements in the nation.

Following that case, questions were also raised about disciplinary action or policy reforms within the Tulsa Police Department. According to reporting by KTUL News, attorneys involved in the Jamerson case said they were unaware of any personnel discipline or significant policy changes resulting from the litigation.

The Tulsa Police Department has not publicly identified disciplinary actions related to either case.

City Says Oversight Has Improved

In a statement provided to KTUL, the City of Tulsa said it remains committed to accountability, transparency and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

City officials pointed to the creation of the Public Safety Commissioner position as a step toward strengthening oversight of public safety operations. According to the city, the role helps evaluate practices across departments, identify opportunities for improvement and build public trust while working toward its goal of becoming "the safest big city in the country."

The city did not identify any specific policy changes or disciplinary actions connected to either the Lewis employment discrimination case or the Jamerson wrongful conviction settlement.

As additional legal fees remain pending in the Lewis case, questions continue over whether reforms will follow—or whether Tulsa taxpayers could face similar costly lawsuits in the future.

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