Gov. Stitt signs bill to help officers with search warrants

Earlier this month, the Tulsa Police Robbery Lieutenant, Captain over the Detective Division, and other Officers traveled to Oklahoma City for a ceremonial bill signing of SB 1660 with Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Officers previously traveled to OKC to testify in front of a committee about the issue.

SB 1660 enables Officers to apply for and obtain a search warrant for a person that has a confirmed felony arrest warrant or misdemeanor arrest warrant for Domestic Assault and Battery, and applies to third-party residences.

Previously, when Officers confirmed a suspect with a felony arrest warrant or domestic arrest warrant was at a third-party residence, meaning not the suspect's home residence or the address of the warrant, Officers could not apply for an arrest warrant to search the property for the wanted person. Officers would have to wait, leave, or attempt to write a warrant for evidence in the crime being investigated.

This created an obstacle for Officers. Suspects with felony arrest warrants could go into a house that had no relation to the crime under investigation and use the third-party residence as a safe haven, leaving Officers without probable cause to write a warrant for evidence.

Tulsa Police Detective A. Derycke first brought up the issue and started working on a solution.

The change in the law will take effect on November 1st, 2024.