July 2026 Newsletter
- Ryan Love
- Jul 31
- 4 min read
Chief Larsen announces retirement
Tulsa Police Chief Dennis Larsen announced his retirement from the Tulsa Police Department after 47 years.
Chief Larsen’s retirement will be effective Thursday, October 1, 2026.
Independence Day parades
It was great to see so many residents come out to celebrate the 4th of July, showing their holiday and community spirit.
From creatively decorated bikes and strollers to festive red, white, and blue outfits, everyone brought their A-game!
World Cup Deployment
Kansas City hosted six FIFA Men's World Cup matches at Arrowhead Stadium, bringing thousands of fans from around the world to their city.
We sent 23 Special Response Team (SRT) personnel on two different deployments to help contribute to the overall safety of the festivities.
911 Dispatch welcomes three new graduates
This month, we celebrated the graduation of our three newest 911 Dispatchers!
Amber, Annabelle, and MaKenzie spent the past six weeks going through an extensive academy, learning everything from Tulsa geography to call types, interviewing skills, and 10-codes to prepare for on-the-job training!
Gilcrease Division
July was truly a marathon for us, finally concluding our commitment to the eight-week “Dare to Dream” summer camp at the Tulsa Dream Center on Tuesday.
We provided unique, hour-long experiences for approximately 50 kids over the course of two months. It was a big lift, not only for the Gilcrease Division, but also the K-9 Unit, Special Operations Team, SPIDER Unit, Bomb Squad, and Air Support Unit. With each week getting hotter than the last, TPD really showed up for these kids and made a lasting impression.
Ages ranged from 1st through 8th grades, and every single age group remained engaged, curious, and excited for each visit. They asked so many great questions and felt comfortable among all the Officers.
Every engagement opportunity we have helps us bridge the gap a little bit more, and we have personally witnessed the effect our efforts have made. It takes all of us working together to foster a good relationship with our community, and we greatly appreciate the flexibility and patience of everyone who has braved harsh elements and sacrificed their time.
We’ve got more than a dozen back-to-school events on the calendar so far and a busy month ahead.
Mingo Valley Division
We kicked off the month by celebrating our nation’s Independence Day at the annual Briarwood Park Fourth of July Parade. This event has become a cherished tradition, and we’re grateful to be invited back year after year. It’s always a great opportunity for our Officers to connect with families and celebrate alongside the community we proudly serve.
Throughout the month, MVD Officers also visited several summer camps, talking with campers about staying safe during the summer months. These conversations help build positive relationships while equipping kids with important safety tips.
One of the highlights of July was participating in News On 6’s Summer Touch-A-Truck event at Bob Mills Furniture. Despite the Oklahoma summer heat, the event drew an incredible crowd. Families enjoyed exploring our patrol vehicles, and the TPD Bomb Squad was a fan favorite, bringing out their truck and robots for everyone to see. While the weather was hot, the excitement was even hotter, and it's safe to say the Bomb Squad robots may have been an even bigger attraction than Travis Meyer!
As July comes to a close, we're looking ahead to an exciting back-to-school season. You'll find MVD Officers attending numerous Back-to-School Bashes and participating in National Night Out events across our community. Thank you to all of our Officers who helped make July another outstanding month.
Riverside Division
Riverside Officers beat the heat this month with a busy schedule and plenty of conversations with the community.
One highlight from the month was the latest Coloring with a Cop where Officers had a great time at McDonald's!
Riverside Officers talked to all the kiddos about police work, patrol cars, and crayons as they beat the heat and tried to keep their coloring inside the lines.
Those kids are going to start heading back to school in August, meaning our Officers will be on the hook for several can't-miss back-to-school events coming up!
AUTO THEFT THWARTED - RTIC quickly tracks car thief down for Officers
On July 22, 2026, around 3:15 p.m., Tulsa Police Officers responded to the Home Depot at 901 S. Elgin for a stolen car.
The victim said he parked outside the store and went inside to shop. When he came out about 25 minutes later, his purple Nissan Rogue was gone.
Our Real Time Information Center (RTIC) immediately got to work on tracking down the victim’s car.
RTIC directed Officers to the stolen Nissan heading north on 33rd West Ave. near 51st. Officers lit up their lights and sirens, prompting the suspect to pull into a bank parking lot. Officers surrounded the suspect, 30-year-old Jason Southard, and took him into custody.
Southard tried to give the victim’s vehicle a quick makeover, prying off the Nissan emblem and spray-painting the Nissan lettering on the trunk. The victim also said about $1,000 in tools and equipment were missing from the vehicle.
Southard told Officers he thought if he had a car, he might be able to find work. He was arrested and booked into the Tulsa County Jail for:
Larceny of an Automobile
Third-Degree Burglary
Malicious Injury to Property
