OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Volunteer police officers in Oklahoma would be required to undergo additional training under a bill passed by the Senate despite concerns the bill was a “knee-jerk reaction” to a deadly shooting by a reserve deputy in Tulsa.
The Senate voted 26-21 for the bill on Thursday that increases the number of hours for a police reserve academy from 240 to 300 hours. It also would require reservists to complete at least 15 hours of continuing education each year. No continuing education is required now.
There are nearly 4,000 active reserve officers and deputies in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma’s training requirements have come under scrutiny after volunteer deputy in Tulsa shot an unarmed man April 2.
The bill now heads to the House.
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Senate Bill 526: https://bit.ly/1OFynIn
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