Robert Bates training records questioned in fatal shooting by Tulsa reserve sheriff

The Tulsa County Sheriff's Office in Oklahoma is facing questions about its training programs, including whether records may have been  falsified, after a man in custody was fatally shot by a reserve deputy who confused his gun with a Taser.

The Tulsa World newspaper, citing unnamed sources, reported Thursday that supervisors in the office "were ordered to falsify a reserve deputy's training records, giving him credit for field training he never took and firearms certifications he should not have received."

The report said further that three supervisors were transferred after refusing to sign off on the state-mandated training for reserve deputies.

Robert Bates, a 73-year-old Oklahoma reserve sheriff's deputy, was booked into Tulsa County Jail on Tuesday on a manslaughter charge. Bates was released after posting bond.

The Tulsa County Sheriff's Office said Bates, an insurance executive who was volunteering on an undercover operation in Tulsa, accidentally shot 44-year-old Eric Harris on April 2.

Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler charged Bates on Monday with second-degree manslaughter, punishable by up to four years in prison.

A video of the incident shows a deputy tackling Harris, who authorities say had tried to sell an illegal gun to an undercover officer.

A gunshot rang out as the deputy wrestled with Harris on the ground and a man says: "Oh, I shot him. I'm sorry."

Harris died at an area hospital.

The Tulsa World's report said in a subsequent update Thursday that the sheriff's office will conduct an internal review of the deputy reserve program.