Tulsa Police Officer Cleared In Killing To Resign, Felt Isolated At Desk Job

OKLAHOMA CITY — A white Tulsa police officer recently acquitted of manslaughter after shooting an unarmed black man to death has submitted her resignation, saying her desk job made her feel isolated from her colleagues.

Jurors in May acquitted Officer Betty Shelby in the 2016 killing of Terence Crutcher. Attorney Shannon McMurray said Shelby submitted a resignation letter to the department, effective Aug. 3.

Shelby sent a press release Friday via the Tulsa branch of a national police union and said she's praying for healing for Crutcher's family and the community. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

The officer was working in an administrative role at the police department since she returned to work days after her acquittal.

Tulsa police spokeswoman officer Jeannie McKenzie did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Photo credit: Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press