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30 Years of TPD:
Retirement
Tom retired in 2008 after 30 years and 3 months on the Tulsa Police Department.
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Badge Story--I swear this is true
Look up above...that's my badge. Sort of.
When I graduated from the academy I was issued a brand new badge with a
number in the 200s. The clasp broke. I took it to Police Personnel and
was given badge 110. The clasp broke. I returned to Police Personnel.
They looked at me with collective disbelief and gave me badge 519.
They emphasized that I should quit breaking badges.
I was informed that my badge would be repaired in about ten working days
and I would be notified. That was in 1978. They should be calling
anytime.... hey I've retired. Mail it to me. |
1978
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My TPD graduating class being administered the oath of office
January 31,1978. The academy class started November 1, 1977. I'm in back
on the right. Color photography existed but the city was too cheap...
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July 25, 1978
I didn't waste any time hassling innocent citizens. This was my
first time to testify in court in Tulsa, and my first murder trial.
During the trial the judge kept napping.
Moments after this photo was taken the suspect began telling me all
about how he had shot his wife. I recorded it.
The defense attorney made a big deal out of the Miranda warning.
In spite of what you see on television the warning is only required when
the police are questioning you. Mr. Greathouse just started
talking.
I finally stopped him after he had related the entire story and started
over. I advised him of Miranda and asked him a couple of questions
to clarify the story. Needless to say it was all admissible.
Because of circumstances i.e. his wife was having an affair and told him
so after sex, the jury found him guilty of manslaughter and gave him
time served. |
| Jimmy Carter was President and the 78 Plymouth Fury was the car of
choice. Like that haircut? |
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| Off duty with classmate Tim Barrett, Tom Fultz and me. |
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1981
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With Son Brian in about 1981. |
1986
| Ronald Reagan was President and TPD went with a 1986 Plymouth Fury.
TPD began assigning cars to individual officers just prior to allowing
them to take their cars home. |
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1991
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In 1991 I was involved in a pursuit of a stolen motorcycle.
The driver quickly accelerated to over 100 mph while going over a hill.
I lost site of him but saw a huge plume of debris about 30 feet high as
I approached the crest of the hill.
The photo above is my car parked next to what is left of the motorcycle.
The pursuit was from the right. I made a right turn at the
intersection and spent a few seconds wondering where the driver was.
I then checked on the people in the car before finding the motorcycle
driver behind the car. He hit where the fireman are standing and
went under the car and died where I'm standing.
The picture below is to the right of the picture above. The car
was pulling out from the right and was turned sideways by the impact.
If I showed you the photo of the body you would wear a helmet and never
ride at 100 mph. |
1997-2000
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1997
The car design changed on the 96 Ford Crown Victoria, hair was
shorter and some guy from Arkansas was President. |
1998
I collected pictures of vehicle vs. occupied structures. I am
unabashedly posing in this one where you have a combination of a dead
end street, a stupid driver and a stolen truck.
Oddly enough I never went to one of these where any resident was ever
injured. |
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1998
Investigations supervisor at Uniform Division Southwest. |
1999
The department's first Crime Analysis Unit
Front-Bryan Horry, Tom Vallely, Neal Walters
Back- Gerry Bryan, Randy Tuttle |
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2000-2008
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2003
Crime Analysis Unit
Front-Neal Walters, Jim McClaughry
Back- Gerry Bryan, Randy Tuttle, Tom Vallely |
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Went back to the field in 2005 and mostly enjoyed myself
again. Above is Tom's last car.
Seems they changed the uniforms while I
was inside.
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Related Links
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