Police Intervene Against Water Utility Threats In Oklahoma

A water line maintenance worker in Oklahoma City is facing accusations that he posed an urgent and deadly threat to his co-workers.

“Guns, ammo and threats against their lives. Police say city employees alerted them concerned their co-worker would go on a shooting spree. Documents... reveal those workers believe they've seen warning signs for more than a year,” News 9 reported.

“In legal documents News 9 obtained, co-workers...say [the man] was on a downhill mental spiral, and they believed he was capable of a mass shooting,” the report continued.

The man allegedly showed his coworkers loaded handguns he had at his job in the water utilities department. He allegedly made threats to kill department workers. When police searched his work bag, they found 100 rounds of live ammunitions, the report said. He remains employed by the city but out on administrative leave.

The city said in a statement, per News 9: "Employees are encouraged to call police if they feel they are in danger. The City of Oklahoma City has a policy that prohibits violence and firearms in the workplace."

According to the city, water line maintenance workers focus on pipeline projects. “Water Line Maintenance employees make sure the 3,000-some miles of water pipeline underneath our city keep the water flowing to your home or business,” the city says.

The EPA offers various guidance documents on how water utilities can prepare for dangerous or potentially dangerous incidents. “Being ready to respond to an incident requires a continuous cycle of activities,” the agency says.

For more stories on worker safety, visit Water Online’s Labor Solutions Center.