April 2026 Newsletter
- Ryan Love
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
Welcome to the Tulsa Police Department's monthly newsletter. Here's a look back at our month of April as we look toward a busy month of May!
Class 132 Graduation
Earlier this month, 21 men and women from Class 2025-132 finished their training at the Tulsa Police Academy.
Family, friends, and city leaders gathered at the Training Division to celebrate their success as they move on to field training.
Buckledown Awards
This month was home to the 33rd annual Buckledown Awards!
More than 30 Officers from the Tulsa Police Department were recognized for their outstanding performance throughout the calendar year of 2025 in Impaired Driving, Occupant Protection, Speed Enforcement or Overall Traffic Safety.
National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week
Earlier this month we celebrated National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week!
Last year, our dispatchers in Public Safety Communications received more than 985,000 calls. They continue to serve a vital role around the clock to quickly send Police Officers, Firefighters, and Paramedics to the places they’re needed most.
Tulsa Global Alliance visits
Tulsa Police Chief Dennis Larsen and additional members of the command staff hosted law enforcement representatives from around the world this month through the Tulsa Global Alliance.
Visitors toured the Real Time Information Center and learned about how the department utilizes the many tools at its disposal to keep the public safe.
Gilcrease Division
Temps are warming up and community requests are coming in, making April a very busy month for all three patrol divisions!
One highlight included Gilcrease Officers visiting Unity Learning Academy early in the month for career day. Officers VanHoozer and Eclavea traveled to multiple classrooms, visiting with pre-K through 2nd-grade students.
They talked about what Police Officers do, what kind of equipment they use, and when to call 911 for help. It was a fun and busy morning, fielding questions from dozens of young students, many of whom said they wanted to become Police Officers one day.
Mingo Valley Division
We kicked things off this month at the Union High School Cultural Showcase, where officers had the chance to engage with students and families from a wide range of backgrounds. It was a great experience to enjoy cultural performances, sample foods from around the world, and build connections in such a vibrant setting.
As always, Oklahoma weather kept us on our toes, which made our participation in Woodland Hills Mall’s Severe Weather Awareness Expo especially timely. Officers handed out TPD goodies and showcased a patrol vehicle alongside fellow first responders and storm chasers.
April also brought back a favorite, Coloring with a Cop. This event gave officers and kids alike a chance to step away from the day-to-day and simply connect over conversation, coloring, and a shared love for McDonald's Fries.
We wrapped up the month with the second annual Heroes & Families Safety Day Celebration. This special event focused on engaging with differently abled members of our community, offering a safe and welcoming environment to explore emergency vehicles, lights, and sounds at their own pace. We were also proud to get the Blue Envelope into the hands of those who need it most, helping promote safer and more informed interactions.
Each of these events is a bit different, but they all serve the same purpose: building relationships, trust, and ensuring that every member of our community feels seen, supported, and safe.
Riverside Division
Officers at the Riverside Division shared some great times with great members of our community in April!
Earlier this month, Officers from both Gilcrease and Riverside met with Tulsa Parks and ASEZ WAO to help clean up the area near Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza.
Toward the end of the month, Riverside Officers and the Tulsa Police Bomb Squad took part in a touch-a-truck event at Junior League of Tulsa.
We're looking forward to a busy month of May!
Citizens help Officers get autistic child to safety
On April 13, 2026, around 7:10 p.m., Tulsa Police Officers responded to a call about a 6-year-old boy walking in traffic near 51st and 76th East Ave.
The 6-year-old is nonverbal autistic, and was wandering by himself into the street. A woman passing by grabbed him out of the street and sat down with him to call the police.
Officers arrived, but the 6-year-old was unable to communicate anything about himself or where he lives.
One of the Officers who responded had a sensory kit for autistic children with toys and activities to relieve stress while they worked to find his family.
Officers canvassed the area to find anyone who might know him until they found his mother, who was looking for him. His mother said he’s getting pretty good at opening doors, and he left their home when she wasn’t looking.
Shout-out to the Officers and citizens who helped keep this boy safe and reunite him with his family!
