Oklahoma Officer Cleared in Crutcher Shooting Resigns

An Oklahoma police officer recently acquitted of fatally shooting an unarmed man announced Friday that she has submitted her resignation from the police force.

Officer Betty Shelby of the Tulsa Police Department has resigned. Shelby was acquitted of manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Terence Crutcher. (Photo: Tulsa PD)Officer Betty Shelby of the Tulsa Police Department has resigned. Shelby was acquitted of manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Terence Crutcher. (Photo: Tulsa PD)

An Oklahoma police officer recently acquitted of fatally shooting an unarmed man announced Friday that she has submitted her resignation from the police force.

In a statement, Tulsa Officer Betty Shelby said that her desk job has made her feel isolated from her colleagues.

A jury in May acquitted Shelby of manslaughter in the killing of Terence Crutcher last year.

Crutcher was unarmed, but Shelby said she thought he was reaching into his vehicle for a weapon.

Attorney Shannon McMurray said Shelby has submitted a resignation letter to the department, effective Aug. 3, CBS News reports.

Crutcher's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court in June against Shelby and the city of Tulsa. The suit seeks at least $75,000 in damages and calls for widespread reform in the Tulsa police department, including mandatory training for officers on managing suspects with mental health or substance abuse issues.

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