Tulsa County Sheriff 's Office reserve deputy sheriff Bates faces a charge of second - degree manslaughter for the April 2 shooting of Eric Harris . Records include training records , job evaluation records and weapons training and qualification records dating to 2008 . Some of the records appear to indicate Bates was proficient in firearms and dozens of other training methods . He kept his Taser near his chest and his gun on his right side - but insisted the mix - up could have happened to anyone . Bates said he had completed all proper training and was not allowed to ' play cop ' just because he had donated equipment to the sheriff 's office .
Tulsa County Sheriff 's Office reserve deputy Robert Bates faces a charge of second-degree manslaughter for the April 2 shooting of Eric Harris . Records include training certificates , job evaluation reports and weapons training and qualification records dating to 2008 . Some of the records seem to indicate Bates was proficient in firearms and dozens of other training courses . He kept his Taser near his chest and his gun on his right side - but insisted the mix-up could have happened to anyone . Bates said he had completed all proper training and was not allowed to 'play cop ' just because he had donated equipment to the sheriff 's office .