 | Tulsans following the news, this week will hear the horrible story of a life cut short at the Tulsa County jail. Treatment lacks ‘human decency’ from the Tulsa Frontier Williams, a 37-year-old veteran with no criminal record, died Oct. 27, 2011, after suffering a mental breakdown at an Owasso hotel and ending up in Tulsa’s jail. At some point over the next six days, records show he broke his neck, possibly when he rammed his head into his cell door or when detention officers dumped him from a gurney onto a shower floor. The jail’s medical and detention staff thought Williams was “faking paralysis” but he wasn’t seen by a physician — who just happened to be in the jail that day — until shortly before he died, records indicate. More than 50 hours of videotape show that jail medical staff did not perform a simple test to determine whether Williams was paralyzed. Read the full story at the Tulsa frontier. |
 Former Interim Tulsa County Sheriff, Michelle Robinette and Cathy Costello, this past week at the new jail mental health facility. | Since the tragedy of Elliot Williams, Former Sheriff, Stanley Glanz and the jail administration set out a course to change the jail. This is especially true of the mental health component. Last week, Chief Deputy, Michelle Robinette resigned her post in order to take on the civilian role of Director of Mental Health. On friday I invited several mental health advocates, including Cathy costello (widow of slain State Labor Commissioner, Mark costello). TCSO has turned a corner and the new sheriff, new medical service provider, and brand new mental health facility; will set a new, higher standard in care for the incarcerated mentally ill. |
