Tulsa Police September Newsletter
September 2026
Welcome to the Tulsa Police Department's monthly newsletter.
Chief Brooks sworn in by Mayor Nichols
Chief Jonathan Brooks was officially sworn in by Mayor Monroe Nichols this month, officially kicking off his tenure as Tulsa's 42nd Chief of Police!
Congratulations, Chief Brooks!
9/11 Memorial Stair Climb
We were honored to be a part of the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb downtown earlier this month.
Several participants from our public safety family climbed 110 flights of stairs, carrying on the legacy of the men and women lost on this day 25 years ago. Thank you to everyone who came out, and to the community for your continued support.
Dispatch welcomes five graduates
Earlier this month, we welcomed five new 911 dispatchers to our Public Safety Communications family!
They’ll spend the next several weeks working one-on-one with a trainer for on-the-job training. Congratulations!
918 Day Celebration
Earlier this month, our PM Impact Unit and Mental Health units attended the 918 Day celebration at Chapman Green.
We were happy to be there, among so many wonderful community partners, to visit with everyone and share helpful resources!
Citizens Police Academy begins
Earlier this month, our Training Division hosted the first session of our fall Citizens Police Academy.
Both Chief Larsen and Chief Brooks spoke with participants who took time out of their schedules to learn about the Tulsa Police Department. They'll gather once a week for the next few months to meet with different Officers and specialty units.
Gilcrease Division
One highlight from this month came from a tour of our Academy.
Students from Epic Charter Schools paid a visit to the Academy to learn what it takes to become a Tulsa Police Officer. This is the second year we’ve done a tour with Epic, providing a behind-the-scenes look at some of our coolest resources.
Recruiters McAlpin and Leslie kicked off the tour, talking about the hiring process and what academy life is like for the recruits. As the questions rolled in, they eventually transitioned to questions about the K-9 Unit, and it was the perfect time to segue into a bite demo with Officer Anderson and K-9 Taz. Taz eagerly bit onto Lieutenant Moudy and showed just how much he loves getting to work.
After that, we headed to the heliport, where Lt. Cory and Officer Hanson taught the students about our Air Support Unit. They talked about what they do and the different tools they get to use in their jobs.
Lastly, we finished up with a visit to the Bomb Squad, where Lt. Thompson and Officer Boren gave insight into how the bomb robot works and what types of calls they respond to – not only in Tulsa, but across northeast Oklahoma.
Mingo Valley Division
September brought plenty of opportunities for the Mingo Valley Division to connect with our community, build relationships, and represent the Tulsa Police Department throughout east Tulsa.
We kicked off the month with a K-9 demonstration at MacArthur Elementary, where students had the opportunity to meet our four-legged TPD partners and learn more about the work our K-9 Unit does.
MVD Officers also joined Union Public Schools PTA for their Movie Night on the Field, featuring The Secret Life of Pets. Officer Mendenhall and her partner, K-9 Tallulah, stopped by to meet students and give them a glimpse into Tallulah’s very important secret life!
Officers and our Recruiting team also hit the streets for the La Fiesta de Tulsa Parade and festivities, joining community members in celebrating culture, tradition, music, and community. It was another great opportunity to connect with the people we serve outside of our everyday calls for service.
Next month is bringing spookies, ghouls, and plenty of community fun! You can find MVD out and about all over East Tulsa, including at Hardesty Regional Library’s Annual Trunk or Treat and returning back for another year at McClure Park’s Sparky’s Spooktacular.
Thank you to everyone who continues to make MVD a part of the east Tulsa community.
Riverside Division
Officers at the Riverside Division had a great month, connecting with the community and staying busy.
One highlight included Capt. Hardaway and Officer Kepler stopping by Marquette Early Childhood to talk to the preschoolers about safety.
They discussed the importance of seatbelts, recognizing trusted adults, and how to respond in an emergency. The students also had the opportunity to see a patrol car up close and learn more about the equipment Officers use every day.
Burglary suspects ditch drugs and dog while running from Officers
On September 4, 2026, the Tulsa Police Riverside Street Crimes Unit began investigating a car burglary from earlier that morning.
The victim said she went to a gas station around 91st and Yale at 8 a.m. As she tried to pump gas, she checked for her purse in her front seat and found it missing.
Officers watched video from the gas station that showed a dark green Cadillac STS pull up next to the victim’s car while she was preoccupied with the pump. A woman gets out of the Cadillac, opens the victim’s car, and leaves with the purse.
Officers started working with our Real Time Information Center and used Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPR) to identify and track the suspect vehicle.
Around 4 p.m., Officers found the Cadillac outside Reasors near 71st and Sheridan. Officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect drove off westbound on 71st.
Officers did not pursue the suspect due to the amount of traffic on the road. A few minutes later, another Officer saw the Cadillac driving recklessly and throwing the victim’s purse out the window.
The Cadillac hit another median, and the suspects ditched the car — and their dog. They ran into the adjacent neighborhood where the driver, 46-year-old Noah Pepera, ditched a container of fentanyl.
Officers caught up to them and took them into custody. Pepera was arrested for Conspiracy to Commit a Felony.
The passenger, 42-year-old Mary Edwards, matched the description of the woman seen taking the victim’s purse on video. Officers arrested Edwards for Burglary from a Vehicle and Conspiracy to Commit a Felony.
Officers tracked down the couple’s dog and helped facilitate its pickup by the suspects’ friends.
Photos of the Month 📸
