Tulsa Undersheriff Urges Victims To Come Forward After Deputy's Sexual Assault Arrest

The Tulsa County Sheriff's Office held a news conference Wednesday morning after a deputy's arrest on two complaints of sexual assault and one indecent exposure complaint.

Deputy Gerald Nuckolls was arrested for reportedly touching a woman inappropriately and exposing himself to her and another female while on duty September 16.

"Our first and foremost responsibility is to the victims," said Undersheriff Tim Albin in the news conference. "We think that there's additional victims out there."

Albin encouraged anyone who has been a victim to reach out to Call Rape at 918-743-5763 or the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office. He said he could understand if they did not want to contact TCSO but urged them to use other resources to get help - and justice.

"Please don't suffer in silence," he said.

The criminal investigation was launched immediately after the Sheriff's Office received a citizen complaint Tuesday morning, Albin said. 

9/16/2014 Related Story: Tulsa County Deputy In Custody For Sexual Assault

"It's been a real punch in the gut," Albin said, adding that Nuckolls' fellow deputies felt a sense of betrayal. The department had no reason to suspect the behavior, but he believes it responded quickly once it was reported.

Nuckolls has resigned his position, Albin said.

Albin said the investigation will proceed over the next several months. He pledged that the TCSO will "do the right thing" in making sure justice is served.

Nuckolls told investigators that "he has a problem for pretty women and that he has met, over the course of his patrol time, about six women" who he has had sexual activity with, court documents show.

It's the second news conference Oklahoma law agencies have held this week concerning sex crimes arrests of officers. On Tuesday, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol briefed the media on the arrest of a trooper on rape and other complaints.

9/15/2014 Related Story: OHP: Arrest Of Trooper 'Sickens OHP As An Agency'