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Time for protesters to run for office; time for Tulsa leaders to read the Riot Act

A young friend of mine was incensed at the attitude of older folks about the incident on the North Detroit overpass of Interstate 244. "The point of a protest is this: How does it feel to be powerless?" So it was fine, in the eyes of this homeschooled, Christian young...

Posted by Michael Bates on June 1, 2020 11:25 PM

Tulsa police shooting video, audio, charges filed

Someone has posted the video and audio that has been released by city authorities regarding the September 16, 2016, shooting on 36th Street N. in Tulsa. The collection consists of video from three officer dash cams and from the helicopter, audio from the 911 calls, and audio from police dispatch....

Posted by Michael Bates on September 22, 2016 11:18 PM

Obama's deafening silence on police assassinations

Travis Yates, a Tulsa Police Department major, has written an editorial questioning President Obama's silence after a number of recent assassinations of police officers around the country. In just the past week, Yates says, seven police officers were killed, six of them "were gunned down by assailants." Yates notes Obama's...

Posted by Michael Bates on February 16, 2016 8:25 AM

Tawny Sheppard: missing and endangered in Tulsa

The Tulsa Police Department is looking for Tawny Sheppard, age 21, date of birth December 19, 1991, 5'3" tall, weight 135. According to the news release, "Tawny is homeless and was last seen around the Tulsa Select Hotel at 5100 S. Yale. She is also known to be around the...

Posted by Michael Bates on February 28, 2013 5:39 PM

Marilyn Chapel: <s>missing and endangered</s> FOUND

UPDATE: FOUND. At 10:20 a.m., Wednesday, January 23, 2013, TPD issued a release saying that Marilyn Chapel had been located by a family member late Tuesday, and that she was unharmed. Kudos to TPD for putting the info about her safe recovery on the same URL that was used to...

Posted by Michael Bates on January 22, 2013 11:31 AM

Tulsa K9 Officer Hooch takes a bite out of crime

A news release this morning from the Tulsa Police Department announces the apprehension of a suspect in a car burglary in the Owen Park neighborhood: Burglary from Vehicle Suspect Apprehended At about 1:49 AM, officers were dispatched to an auto theft in progress at 302 N. Santa Fe Ave. Upon...

Posted by Michael Bates on May 23, 2012 12:01 PM

FOP issues Tulsa City Council endorsements

Released today by the Tulsa FOP Lodge 93: MEDIA RELEASE August 26, 2011 For Immediate Release For further information Contact Victor Ajlouny 402-968-0556 Tulsa FOP Endorses City Council Candidates Decisions follow written and oral interviews plus background checks The Tulsa Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 93 voted to endorse the...

Posted by Michael Bates on August 26, 2011 5:25 PM

21st & Yale chase tied to Prue home invasion

In case you missed it, here is the Tulsa Police Department's statement from Wednesday concerning Tuesday's incident at 21st and Yale, involving a fatal carjacking attempt, a second carjacking, and pursuit ending in the death of one of the perpetrators. It was close enough to us that my son, inside...

Posted by Michael Bates on June 3, 2011 8:53 AM

WSJ covers Tulsa Police scandal

From the Friday, December 10, 2010, Wall Street Journal: A federal investigation into the Tulsa Police Department that began nearly two years ago has unearthed a flood of corruption allegations. Federal prosecutors allege that a handful of veteran officers, aided by a federal agent, fabricated informants, planted evidence, stole drugs...

Posted by Michael Bates on December 11, 2010 8:57 AM

Report on Bartlett Jr, Simonson, and the JAG grant online

The investigative report commissioned by the Tulsa City Council regarding Mayor Dewey F. Bartlett Jr. and Chief of Staff Terry Simonson is now online at the tulsacouncil.org website. The investigation concerned statements made by Bartlett Jr and Simonson regarding a particular Federal grant (JAG) that might be used to prevent...

Posted by Michael Bates on July 2, 2010 12:21 AM

Bartlett to Canadian paper: Tulsa FOP "selfish and greedy"

It's a story from February 1, 2010, but I just saw it this week, via Troy Sappington on Facebook: a story in the London (Ontario) Free Press that prominently featured comments from Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett Jr on police salaries and layoffs. The story was part of a series entitled...

Posted by Michael Bates on May 8, 2010 11:37 PM

Improving TPD's social media presence

The Tulsa Police Department could be making better use of the internet and social media tools to communicate with the public, particularly in emergency situations. TPD has a blog, a Facebook fan page, and a Twitter account -- you've probably received the ominous email: Tulsa Police is now following you......

Posted by Michael Bates on March 8, 2010 12:14 AM

Special-needs child missing near 101st and Yale UPDATE: Found!

TPD Update: "Our missing child has been located at 9600 S. Riverside Drive. The child was cold but otherwise will be ok. Thank you for your assistance." A bulletin from the Tulsa Police Department, March 4, 2010, 8:06 p.m.: On March 4 at about 4:30 PM, officers were notified of...

Posted by Michael Bates on March 4, 2010 8:30 PM

Operation Slick Budget

Listening to last week's radio reports of slick roads brought to mind a commercial parody from back when Michael DelGiorno hosted the morning show on 1170 KFAQ, back during Tulsa's last budget crisis, early in the Bill LaFortune administration. A 911 caller with a police emergency was told by the...

Posted by Michael Bates on February 4, 2010 6:50 PM

Bartlett outlines cuts, layoffs in email to city workers

Mayor Dewey Bartlett Jr sent an email on Thursday to city employees regarding the poll of AFSCME members, preferring layoffs to salary and benefit cuts, and regarding the state of negotiations with the police and fire unions. Click over to Roemerman on Record for the full text of Bartlett's statement....

Posted by Michael Bates on January 22, 2010 12:25 AM

Tulsa police on BBC: Good or bad?

I got a call yesterday from someone upset about "24 Hours in Tulsa," the BBC World Service documentary about Tulsa police officers. The documentary is based on Officer Jay Chiarito-Mazzarella's Street Stories podcast. Much of the 22-minute piece is Chiarito-Mazzarella retelling some of his stories, with a few words changed...

Posted by Michael Bates on January 2, 2010 1:04 AM

Tulsa police featured in BBC radio documentary

BBC World Service will present a radio documentary called "24 Hours in Tulsa." For one police officer, patrolling the streets of Tulsa, Oklahoma, has become more than just a job. Jay Chiarito-Mazarrella has created a cult following for his self-narrated Street Story podcasts - fresh, funny and sometimes frightening insights...

Posted by Michael Bates on December 29, 2009 12:07 PM

TPD Homicide Unit on "The Interrogators"

A press release from the Tulsa Police Department: On April 19th and April 26th at 9:00 p.m., the Tulsa Police Department's Homicide Unit will be featured on an episode of the Interrogators, as seen on the Biography Channel. This is an opportunity for the citizens of Tulsa and individuals around...

Posted by Michael Bates on April 17, 2009 8:40 AM

Tulsa FOP wins arbitration battle

Tulsa's police union won their contract arbitration with the City of Tulsa today, as an arbitration panel selected the Fraternal Order of Police's proposal over that of city management, resolving a lengthy contract impasse for the current fiscal year, which began last July, according to a press release today from...

Posted by Michael Bates on February 19, 2009 5:18 PM

Missing persons in Tulsa - UPDATE: Both found!

UPDATE: Robert Carpenter was found shortly after midnight, Dec. 16, near 81st and Mingo. At 3 pm, TPD reported that Joe Kelley III had been found. The Tulsa Police Department is requesting help in locating two missing persons, one old and one young. (Translated from police-ese to English.) The Tulsa...

Posted by Michael Bates on December 16, 2008 12:41 AM