December 2025 Newsletter
- Ryan Love
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
Happy Holidays! Welcome to the Tulsa Police Department's monthly newsletter. We're excited to share some of the things we've been up to in December as we bundle up and prepare for 2026!
Blue Envelope Program Launch
Earlier this month, Tulsa Police Chief Dennis Larsen and Law Enforcement Leaders from surrounding areas announced the start of the Blue Envelope Program.
The Blue Envelope Program is a community initiative designed to make interactions between police and residents safer and calmer for those who experience communication challenges. Learn more about it here.
Light Up Parade
Just in time for Christmas, we got to take part in a special event at the Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis!
More than 70 patrol cars, fire trucks, and several helicopters took part in the 2nd Annual Light Up Parade outside the hospital, putting on a light show for the children and families who won’t be home for the holidays.
99th Annual Tulsa Christmas Parade
It was a cold morning in Tulsa earlier this month, but that didn't stop us from taking part in the 99th Annual Tulsa Christmas Parade! This year's theme was "OklaHOME for Christmas"!
The Tulsa Police Motorcycle Unit kicked off the parade at 6th and Detroit. Chief Dennis Larsen, Command Staff, and Officers and their families walked in the parade this year, while many of our Patrol Officers worked the parade, blocking off streets and keeping spectators safe.
Trees of Remembrance
Earlier this month, we took part in the annual Trees of Remembrance ceremony, honoring the lives of homicide victims who died from violent crimes in Tulsa County.
Families decorated trees with ornaments honoring their loved ones. The ceremony also included a candlelight service, a prayer, and several speakers.
Shop with a Cop 2025
Several Tulsa Police Officers and department leaders participated in the annual Shop with a Cop event put on by the Rotary Club of Tulsa and Tulsa Fraternal Order of Police this month.
Officers shopped the aisles of a local Walmart location with local families and filled out their Christmas lists for the year while a volunteer Rotarian secretly did the shopping for the children.
Badges & Staches
Throughout the month-long Badges and Staches fundraiser, Officers from the Tulsa Police Department and Tulsa Fire Department competed against each other by trying to out-"stache" each other each week.
Earlier this month, kids at the Children’s Hospital and Saint Francis got to choose the final winner of the “Best Stache” competition, and while the cheers for Tulsa Fire Capt. Smith were slightly louder, in the end, both Sgt. Gallegos and Capt. Smith had their mustaches shaved by the kids, presenting a $1,500 check to the hospital in the process.
FBI National Academy Graduation
We’d like to congratulate Tulsa Police Captain Kim Lee on her graduation from the FBI National Academy on December 11th, 2025.
Captain Lee is the 33rd FBI National Academy Graduate from the Tulsa Police Department. Join us in congratulating her on her success!
Gilcrease Division
This month, the Gilcrease Division took part in a handful of fulfilling events, but one truly helped some furry friends find a place to call home for the holidays. Officers took part in our first-ever C.O.R.E. Unit-initiated event within the Gilcrease Division – and it was for a good cause!
After meeting with the SPCA in August to discuss collaboration opportunities, we worked together to organize a play date between Gilcrease Officers and some of the adoptable cats and dogs living at the shelter.
After spending just one hour playing with the cats and dogs, feeding them pup cups, and giving them lots of love, we learned a few days later that ALL the cats were adopted, along with some of the dogs. Our Facebook post highlighted the animals and the SPCA’s December specials, helping them clear their shelter.
Thanks to our collaborative efforts, we were able to make a difference in the lives of more than a dozen animals and help them find a home just in time for Christmas. Now, the SPCA will be able to pull at-risk cats and dogs from the very overcrowded Tulsa Animal Services, giving them a better chance of survival and adoption.
Mingo Valley Division
December was truly a month dedicated to spreading holiday cheer and strengthening connections throughout our community. Officers from the Mingo Valley Division spent time visiting several schools, engaging with and speaking to the youngest members of our community and helping share positive messages during the holiday season.
Our officers then stepped in to fill some very big shoes when Santa’s elves didn’t make it to Woodland Hills Mall’s Elf Academy. With enthusiasm and plenty of holiday spirit, they rose to the challenge and made sure everyone still experienced the joy and magic of the season.
Officers from MVD’s Traffic Unit also represented the Tulsa Police Department at a meaningful event hosted by the Tulsa Health Department in partnership with Mothers Against Drunk Driving. At the center of Woodland Hills Mall stands a Christmas tree surrounded by 163 wrapped presents that will never be opened, each representing a life lost due to the selfish decision to drive drunk. The display served as a powerful reminder of the importance of making safe choices.
Once again, officers embraced the role of Santa’s helpers by joining forces with Joy in the Cause at the 3rd Annual Joy in the Harvest event at La Cosecha, where they helped distribute Christmas gift sets to families in need.
We closed out the month with an idea inspired by Captain Armentrout, the return of the Light Drive-Thru Parade at Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis. Last year, approximately 20 patrol vehicles, fire trucks, and ambulances participated. This year, the response has been overwhelming, with nearly 50 emergency vehicles RSVP’d. Thank you to everyone who took part and helped make the holidays a little brighter for children and families who won’t be able to be home for the season.
Riverside Division
Earlier this month, Riverside Division Officers attended a ribbon-cutting for young children in west Tulsa.
Under the Canopy School opened this fall, welcoming students from Pre-K through 3rd grade at the old Park Elementary site. Under the Canopy started as an after-school nature enrichment program in 2016 and has since evolved into what it is today: a nature-based public charter school inspired by the Waldorf Learning Method, which encourages a full day of learning infused with access to the arts and nature.
An event like that, followed by collecting diapers for this year's Winter Break Diaper Drive and visiting some young, local students, really helped exemplify what a fulfilling year it's been!
We're looking forward to carrying that momentum into 2026!
Shooting suspect arrested on Christmas morning
On 12/25/2025 at 2:00 am, Officers were assigned to a home near Pine and Vandalia for a shooting. As we were on the way, we learned that two people had been shot and were on the way to separate hospitals, so we also sent Officers to the hospitals.
When we arrived, we learned that the homeowner was hosting a small Christmas party for a specific group of invited guests.
The suspect, 43-year-old Jose Alcaraz, was not one of the invited guests, yet he showed up to the party anyway.
A verbal disagreement erupted between some of the guests and Alcaraz. It quickly escalated into a physical confrontation.
Alcaraz then pulled out a gun and began firing, striking two people. A 37-year-old male and a 31-year-old male were hit. Both were transported to local hospitals and are expected to survive.
Officers were able to quickly identify the shooter and surround his home, which was a couple of miles away from the shooting location.
As we surrounded the suspect’s house, we made phone contact with him, and he agreed to surrender. Shortly after, he emerged and was taken into custody without incident.
The suspect was booked for two counts of Shooting with Intent to Kill.
This is an arrest and not a conviction.
