Mayor: Tulsa Police Practice Of Buying Rank Will Stop

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett says police officers will no longer be able to buy a promotion spot.

"Paying for stripes does appear to give somebody an advantage and I simply can not accept that. That's why we are in the process of preparing an executive order that will put it to an end immediately," Dewey Bartlett said.

The mayor made the statement during a mayor candidate debate this week.

Back in March, News On 6 and our partner, The Frontier, reported senior officers were being paid to retire early, so newly promoted officers would have a spot, rather than having to go through the entire promotional process again, because a year had elapsed and the promotion list expired.

3/16/2016 Related Story: Tulsa Police: Decades-Long Practice Of Buying Rank

Sources tell News On 6 it's a practice that's been happening for decades – officers buying the rank of corporal, sergeant, captain, major and deputy chief for anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000. One former officer said it dates back to the 60s.