August 2025 Newsletter
- Ryan Love
- 21 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Welcome to the Tulsa Police Department's monthly newsletter! We've spent the last month welcoming a ton of Tulsa kids back to school and gearing up for what should be a great end to the summer in September!
Back to School in Tulsa
We spent several days, nights, and weekends celebrating the return to the classroom with Tulsa students and families!
As school zones get busy once again, here's a message from Chief Larsen on back-to-school safety.
Pillar of Hope Award
Congratulations to the seven individuals who received the Pillar of Hope Award! Among the recipients is Det. Jill Sallee, a distinguished member of the Tulsa Police Department and Child Crisis Unit.
This award honors their dedication and significant contributions to supporting children who have experienced abuse.
Learn more about the Child Crisis Unit here.
Beyond the Badge
This month, we hosted a Beyond the Badge event at the Tulsa Police Training Division!
The day featured an overview of the department and highlights from various units, including the Special Operations Team, Crime Scene, and First Aid. Interested applicants also learned about the application process and the requirements of joining the Tulsa Police Department.
911 Dispatcher Graduation
This month, we welcomed seven new 911 Dispatchers to our team!
Congratulations to Stephanie, Cameron, Getty, Hunter, Dakota, Vicki, and Jaycie on graduating from the academy!
Tulsa Police Bomb Squad reveals new robot
The Tulsa Police Department Bomb Squad has a new tool at its disposal, the ICOR FLEX robot! Earlier this month, Officers on the Bomb Squad and Chief Dennis Larsen had the opportunity to test its capabilities.
Funded by a grant from the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security, the new robot has a nearly 20-year leap in technology compared to the bomb squad's previous robot, the REMOTEC ANDROS, which was acquired in 2004.
Gilcrease Division
August kept us on our toes at the Gilcrease Division. We led all three patrol divisions, attending nearly 15 back-to-school bashes this month! At events both big and small, we made connections with dozens of students and their families, handing out swag and sending many well-wishes to everyone heading back to school. One of our biggest events was at the Dream Center, where TPD came out in force to meet with the community. It was a collaborative effort between the Gilcrease Division, Air Support, K-9 Unit, and Special Operations Team. From showing off equipment and patrol vehicles to a helicopter flyover and K-9 bite demo, we made a lasting impression that will help us work toward building our connection with the Dream Center in North Tulsa.
Mingo Valley Division
Mingo Valley Division kicked things off with National Night Out, starting the day at Avant Garde Daycare for donuts and conversations with our youngest community members. From there, we stopped by Clary Sage to hand out stickers to students getting fresh back-to-school haircuts, and later joined residents at Quail Creek Apartments, where a veteran even serenaded us during lunch with our most senior members of the community!
We had the honor of partnering with Joy in the Cause to distribute backpacks full of supplies at La Cosecha. We showcased our patrol vehicles at the annual Blitz Bash, complete with a special Air Support flyover. MVD wrapped up the season at SkyZone, where officers passed out school supplies and TPD backpack tags to excited kids. Beyond the bashes, August also included the Global District mural ribbon cutting and the grand opening of the Drag Trail, both opportunities to connect with the community in new ways. It was a busy month, and we’re not slowing down! In September, we look forward to teaming up with the Tulsa Global District for the La Fiesta de Tulsa Parade and attending the Mission BBQ 9/11 Memorial event, where our very own Det. Warren will open the ceremony with the National Anthem.
We hope to see you there!
Riverside Division
This month, the Riverside Division got in on the back-to-school fun early, including attending one of the biggest bashes in Tulsa!
Thousands of people attended the Community Resource Fair at Expo Square, made possible by several community partners including COHO, the Tulsa State Fair, Tulsa Public Schools, and the United Way. Families were able to come by, pick up school supplies and anything else they might need before returning to class.
Later in the month, Riverside Officers had the opportunity to meet with local children at the Parkview Terrace Back-2-School event hosted by the Tulsa Housing Authority. Children received backpacks and resources to help kick off their school year.
Special Operations Team – Highlighting 50 Years of Service
For more than half a century, the Tulsa Police Special Operations Team (SOT), commonly called SWAT, has proven to be an integral part of the department. At any moment, these Officers are always ready to protect Tulsa, balancing their regular patrol and specialty unit duties with high-stakes missions.
Some highlights:
Since its start as the Tactical (TAC) Squad in 1971, the SOT has evolved into a nationally recognized unit, handling critical incidents like hostage rescues, armed barricaded suspects, high-risk warrant services, and dignitary protection.
SOT members train bi-monthly, focusing on skills like rappelling, helicopter-based rescues, and crisis negotiation. Some members have helped train United Nations forces in Kosovo and competed in the International Warrior Competition in Jordan.
In 2014, the SOT set a national standard by training Officers as tactical medics and including a volunteer trauma surgeon, Dr. Steven Katsis, to provide life-saving care in high-risk situations.
You'll often see members of SOT, along with Patrol Officers, at community events sharing their stories, answering questions about their jobs, and showing their equipment to the public.
Captain Mike Eckert, a nearly 30-year SOT veteran and team commander for 11 years, shares insights about his remarkable career and leads us through the team’s intense training, innovative medical capabilities, and dedication to keeping Tulsa safe.
