TPD Blog

Ticket to ride

SHERRY BROWN / Tulsa World

By Staff Reports
10/31/2007

Police Chief Ron Palmer looks over patrol bikes Tuesday during the opening of the Tulsa Police Department’s new downtown storefront substation in the Oil Capitol Building, 507 S. Main St. Downtown Tulsa Unlimited signed a one-year lease for the space, which it subleased for $1 to the city so that police can have a better presence in a revitalized downtown. Officer Jennifer Mansell, downtown safety liaison and supervisor of the downtown bicycle patrols, will work part-time out of the storefront, which features a reception area, meeting room, office and bicycle storage.

By Staff Reports

Copyright Tulsa World 2007. All rights reserved. Format differs from original publication.

Officials: Raids aren't part of immigration law

POLICE CHIEF
Ron Palmer: He said some people believe that the law contains more law enforcement provisions than it actually has.

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer
10/31/2007
Last Modified: 10/31/2007  3:35 AM

Local and state law enforcement agencies do not expect major changes in their day-to-day operations when House Bill 1804 takes effect on Thursday.

Authorities said that the law does not require, and they do not intend to do, raids seeking illegal immigrants.

"We just don't have enough resources," said Tulsa County Undersheriff Brian Edwards.

However, Tulsa deputies partnered with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in June to begin their stepped up efforts to verify the status of people who are arrested and booked into the Tulsa Jail and place ICE holds on illegal immigrants.

Edwards said Tulsa County is working with ICE as part of the Criminal Illegal Alien Program. He said deputies will also work with ICE on cases involving forged documents, drug smuggling and organized crime.

"People who violate the law have something to worry about," Edwards said.

Mayor announces security program for local service personnel

By World Staff
10/31/2007 

Mayor Kathy Taylor on Wednesday announced "Operation Patriot Watch," a voluntary local security program for National Guard members deployed on active duty.

On a voluntary basis, the city's Police Department and E-911 center will be given the residential addresses of service men and women who live in Tulsa.

Unfortunately, Taylor said, criminals "prey on the military families who have been deployed to to fight terror."

The information on addresses will allow beat police officers who patrol neighborhoods where service members live to keep a closer eye on those residents for suspicious activity, Taylor said.

The E-911 personnel also will know immediately if an address is part of the program.

"This helps protect their families while they are away and may provide them some peace of mind," Taylor said.

"This is one of several initiatives my administration has begun to help the men and women from Tulsa who are serving our country in Iraq, Afghanistan and wherever they are needed," the mayor said.

The city has 11 service members deployed from the Police Department and another six to 10 civilians, city officials said.

Deputy Chief Mark McCrory said the program will be easily implemented without taking additional officers.

By World Staff

Copyright Tulsa World 2007. All rights reserved. Format differs from original publication.

Chief expects need for more officers

By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
10/31/2007

Police Chief Ron Palmer told the City Council on Tuesday that at the end of his first tenure, Tulsa had 100 more officers on the force than there are now.

"So I think we do need more," he said during the council's committee meetings. "How many more? That's what needs to be determined."

Palmer served as Tulsa's chief from 1992 to 2002 and returned to the job last month.

Since 2002, the number of officers has dropped from about 920 to 820, he said.

Palmer is continuing to pursue an independent police manpower review that was started by his predecessor, Interim Chief David Bostrom.

"I'm anxious to have an objective look at this," he said.

Under Bostrom's leadership, two requests for proposals were drafted for the review, but they were too narrowly focused on patrol officers and only allowed about $12,000 in funding, Palmer said.

A third proposal request was issued by Palmer for a review that will encompass the staffing of the entire Police Department and offer $70,000 to $75,000 in funding.

Proposals by qualified organizations are due Wednesday, with a contract to be awarded in a month and the results in six months or more, he said.

Palmer said the manpower report will not be ready in time for the planning of the next fiscal year that begins July 1.

"We're planning for the budget in the next couple of months, and this will come well after that occurs," he said.

Councilors have said they would like to know the number of police officers that Tulsa's force truly needs.

"I know it's a complex issue, but we have to come to some sort of consensus, so we can begin working toward a goal," Councilor Rick Westcott said.

Various formulas and comparisons based on the ratio of officers per thousand residents have been cited that indicate the city could need from 94 to 227 additional officers.

Palmer said those kinds of figures are nebulous.

"I want us to get a good feel for how many we need for the calls of service we have, for the time we need to do proactive patrol and to properly investigate crimes," he said. "It will be good to have a third eye on it."

Brian Barber 581-8322
brian.barber@tulsaworld.com

Copyright Tulsa World 2007. All rights reserved. Format differs from original publication.

OPERATION PATRIOT WATCH BEGINS

Mayor Kathy Taylor joined with Tulsa Police Department officers, 911 personnel and representatives of the Oklahoma Army National Guard today to announce Operation Patriot Watch.

Under this program, Tulsa Police officers patrolling neighborhoods will be made aware of the homes of National Guard soldiers who are serving on active duty during a deployment.
The program will be strictly voluntary. Guard personnel and their families can submit their information through their Family Readiness Coordinator for notification of the 911 Telecommunications Department.
"The men and women deployed oversees are fighting to protect our families. This program helps protect their families while they are away and may provide them some peace of mind," said Mayor Kathy Taylor. "This is one of several initiatives my administration has begun to help the men and women from Tulsa who are serving our country in Iraq, Afghanistan and wherever they are needed," said Mayor Taylor. "I am extremely proud of our Tulsa Police officers and our 911 dispatchers for stepping forward with this voluntary effort to help ease the minds of those who are serving their country."
Under Operation Patriot Watch, Tulsa Guard personnel assigned to military duty overseas can request that their home address be furnished to E-911 dispatchers and to Tulsa Police Department patrol officers who patrol neighborhoods.  The dispatchers and officers will know that a given address is the home of someone on military duty and can help keep an eye out for any suspicious activity.
Only the homes of those military personnel who complete request forms will be included in the program.
The program was coordinated through the Mayor's liaison for Veterans Affairs, Matt Stiner, a former Marine and veteran of the Iraq war. Mayor Taylor recently appointed a Veterans Advisory Council to help improve services to Tulsa-area veterans. More programs benefiting military veterans and active duty personnel will be announced in coming weeks.

OKSAF Senior Seminar

The TulsaOKSAF Senior Seminar

For More Information Contact
Sgt. Stephanie Jackson - 596-1305

The Tulsa City-County TRIAD group will be hosting their Fall Oklahoma Against Fraud (OKSAF) event from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Friday, November 2, 2007 at the Central Center at Centennial Park (6th & Peoria in Tulsa).  The focus for this event will be "Caregiver Solutions and Senior Safety."  It will feature a panel of speakers covering the following topics:

Caregiver's Advice -- Hiring for In-home Services
Rita Moskowitz, Pinnacle Award winner
Long-Distance Care giving
Jackie Lenzy, Alzheimer's Association
Respite Care
RoseAnn Percival, OKDHS, Respite Network
Senior Safety
Assisted Living Security-What to Look For
Mike Heath, Gold Medallion
Scams & Personal Safety
Cheryl Compton, Tulsa Police Department TPD

This Tulsa City-County TRIAD & Volunteers in Police Service event will feature booths with senior care providers ready to answer questions and provide information on their services.  There will be a free continental breakfast provided for attendees.

This is a great opportunity for the public to learn about the many agencies available to senior citizens in the area.

New sex-offender law faces opposition

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer
10/28/2007

A three-tiered ranking system takes effect Thursday.

New restrictions for sex offenders -- including a three-level ranking system that designates how long they must register -- take effect Thursday.

However, some of those who are on the front lines dealing with sex offenders believe that Oklahoma's law is having an adverse effect and needs further changes.

''Most people who know anything about this are frustrated. It is just not helpful -- the laws as they are now,'' said Randy Lopp, treatment subcommittee chairman of the Oklahoma Sex Offender Management Team.

Lopp is also a member of the review board established by the new law to categorize the sex offenders into three levels.

''I think if the general public understood the research, they would be willing to back the legislators to change the laws to make more sense and to protect children, because the laws as they are written are not protecting children," he said. "They are doing more harm than good.''

Categorizing offenders: Lawmakers changed the state law to comply with the federal Adam Walsh Act, said Jim Rabon, who oversees sex offender registration for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.

What the federal law calls a ''tier system,'' the new state law calls a ''numeric risk level.'' The risk level is determined by the type and severity of crime for which the offender was convicted and the number of convictions that person has, he said.

Level One offenders will register for 15 years; Level Two offenders will register for 25 years; and Level Three offenders will register for life.

As in the previous version of the law, those who are categorized as ''aggravated'' or ''habitual'' sex offenders will also be required to register for life.

Rabon said the committee that set up the levels reviewed cases of people beginning prison and probation between July 2006 and June 2007 and determined that most sex offenders fall into the highest risk category.

The review revealed that 78 percent of the sex offenders fall in Level Three, 3 percent in Level Two and 19 percent in Level One.

Based on those numbers, Tulsa Police Sgt. Gary Stansill, who has spent more than 20 years investigating sex crimes in Tulsa, said he believes that the Oklahoma law is too broad.

Under the law, he said, an 18-year-old who is convicted of statutory rape for having sex with a 15-year-old and someone who is convicted of groping an officer during an undercover sting would both be registered sex offenders for life.

''The least number of people should be in the worst tier, but the most number of people are going to be in the worst tier under the new law,'' Stansill said.

Federal law mandates that any state that does not adapt to the Adam Walsh Act will receive up to a 10 percent reduction in federal grant money. Based on past funding, that might amount to a loss of about $200,000 to $300,000 for Oklahoma, Rabon said.

The loss in funding is part of the reason the state has moved to comply with the federal law, he said. Another reason is consistency.

''We do recognize that if all of the states' registration systems are similar, that does make it easier to track offenders when they move from state to state,'' Rabon said.

He said it is important that people realize that Oklahoma has what he believes is one of the best sex offender registration systems in the country.

Law cited in reverse migration

By ALEXIS CHARBONNIER World Correspondent
10/28/2007

Uncertain what might happen, many illegal immigrants are leaving the state for Mexico.

CASA BLANCA, Mexico -- If Oklahoma's House Bill 1804 is supposed to force people to leave the state and return to Mexico, it's working.

The law goes into effect Thursday, but it is already causing a reverse migration of illegal immigrants -- and their U.S. citizen children -- to Casa Blanca, a north-central Mexican town that has long supplied hundreds of illegal immigrants to Tulsa.

''You don't hear people talking about anything else here,'' said Lilia Esparza, who has been the town nurse since 1986. ''Everywhere I hear the phrase 'they're coming back!' ''

The Tulsa World revealed the Casa Blanca pipeline in a 2006 series of stories, which showed some 3,000 Tulsa workers, mostly illegal, had ties to the area.

Now, facing fears of lost jobs, homes and children in the United States, the tide is flowing back.

Esparza's statistics show that 49 families and 88 other U.S.-born children returned to Casa Blanca in the month of September alone.

Whether that trend will continue after the law goes into effect is an open question, especially if there isn't a harsh police enforcement effort.

Those returning home face a bleak scenario: camping out in Tulsa-bought trucks or crumbling, burglarized adobe homes this winter, huddling around campfires in a lawless small town on the frigid Mexican highlands.

The Oklahoma law makes it illegal to knowingly transport illegal immigrants, and it throws up state barriers to hiring of illegal immigrants.

It also requires employers seeking state contracts to use the federal status verification system for its employees and requires identification and proof of citizenship before people can receive certain benefits.

But, to the people of Casa Blanca, the consequences are starker.

''People said, 'What if we just get deported without warning? Will the kids stay behind?' '' Esparza said. ''There were rumors of massive, forced adoptions. They thought even newborns would be taken away.

''In September, the rumor was that immigration officers would be coming into the classrooms in Tulsa, which is why so many young kids were sent back to Mexico,'' Esparza said.

Esparza said a woman came into the clinic recently in Casa Blanca. She had gotten pregnant in Tulsa, but decided to come home to Mexico to give birth because she was afraid her baby would be taken from her in the hospital.

Juan Becerra, 40, a farmer in Mexico, lived in Tulsa for seven years before returning in early October. Becerra laid water mains, built sewers, roads and sidewalks for a contractor, making $12 an hour.

''Rumors are running that they're going to start picking people up before Nov. 1, and on Nov. 2, they're going to pick up anyone they see walking around,'' Becerra said.

Fatima Soriano, a 24-year-old medical school resident serving the town, said although many parents of the children sent home to Casa Blanca are going to try to stay in Tulsa until they're deported, many workers expect to be laid off on Oct. 31, accelerating the return to Mexico.

Laying low in Tulsa: While Tulsans with U.S. citizen and permanent resident status will most likely stay put, those without legal documents have three options. The first is staying in Tulsa and adopting a wait-and-see attitude.

Antonio Barrera, 24, worked in construction in Tulsa for $13 an hour, helping to build St. Francis Heart Hospital. He returned home in early October.

''Most of them are going to chance it and stay in Tulsa to save their houses and trucks,'' Barrera said.

''They're more discreet,'' Becerra said. ''It's not like it used to be: drinking, shouting and gunshots. People are saying, 'I'll drink at home from now on.'

''The streets are deserted now. On Fridays, Mexicans just load up the car with groceries and go home.''

Theft victim has forgiveness in store

By CLIFTON ADCOCK World Staff Writer
10/27/2007

When Sharon Fletcher's pocketbook was stolen Thursday -- along with $575 in money orders meant as a deposit on a new rental house -- it appeared that her future had taken a turn for the worse.

"Needless to say, I was a sad lady," she said. "I had a miserable morning."

In December, Fletcher had a different kind of experience with theft. Her son, Courtney Fletcher, confessed to her that he had robbed several people. Wanting to do what was best for her son, she encouraged him to turn himself in before she called the police herself.

"I didn't want him killed or anyone else getting hurt," she said.

Courtney Fletcher was charged with nine counts of robbery. He is in the Tulsa Jail awaiting trial.

On Thursday morning, after getting off work, Sharon Fletcher went to the Reasor's supermarket at 15th Street and Lewis Avenue and bought two money orders totaling $575.

She then bought gas near 11th Street and Utica Avenue. As she was about to go inside to get her change, a woman in a wheelchair asked whether she could pump gas for her, as well, Fletcher said.

After helping the woman and getting her change, Fletcher returned to her vehicle to find that her pocketbook, containing the money orders, $87 in cash, her glasses and other items, had been stolen.

She called Reasor's and Tulsa police to report the theft, but Fletcher was almost sure that her chances of getting into a new home were gone.

Things changed about 2:30 p.m., however, when a man went into the same Reasor's and asked to cash two money orders totaling $575, store manager Jeff Burns said.

Burns said he stalled the man -- who he said gave several stories as to how he had obtained the money orders -- until they could be confirmed as stolen and the man could be taken into custody.

Burns added that he was amazed at the odds that the man would come into the same store to cash them.

Eric Wells, 26, was arrested on complaints of obtaining money by fraud and knowingly concealing stolen property after a felony conviction, police said.

Catching someone who has stolen a money order doesn't happen often, Burns said.

"Everything just clicked into place perfectly, with her being wise enough to call back" and report the money orders stolen, he said.

With the money orders returned, Fletcher is back on track to move into her new home, she said.

"What struck me was how the Reasor's employees went out of their way to make this happen," she said. "People should know that. They made a difference in my life."

Fletcher also thanked the Tulsa Police Department for officers' help in the case.

She said she knows now never to leave her car unlocked with valuables inside, a guideline that Police Officer Leland Ashley said everyone should follow.

"If you're going to be away from your car for any amount of time, lock the door," he said. "If you're going inside to make a purchase, don't leave it (your car) unlocked with your personal items right there in plain sight."

Fletcher said she spoke briefly with Wells and that although she knows he'll have to pay for the crime if he is found guilty, "my heart went out to him."

"Nobody is born a criminal," she said. "Life takes us to different places."

After seeing her son arrested and knowing what he is going through in trying to turn his life around, Fletcher said she hopes that Wells can do the same.

"He has time to redeem himself and go on with life, but he has to make a change," she said.

"I hope he will look back at this and go on to bigger and better things."

Clifton Adcock 581-8367
clifton.adcock@tulsaworld.com

Copyright Tulsa World 2007. Format differs from original publication.

Cities to seek slice of revenue

By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
10/28/2007

Tulsa and other cities will press the Oklahoma Legislature to give a half-penny of the state's 4.5 cent sales tax rate to municipalities specifically for street and bridge work.

Tulsa's share would be about $34.5 million annually.

The effort is at the top of the Oklahoma Municipal League's agenda for the next legislative session, and, if successful, could cost the state an estimated $182 million per year.

Under the proposal, cities would keep the half-cent collected within their borders.

Mayor Kathy Taylor said the money from the state would go a long way toward addressing Tulsa's ailing streets.

"This would be an effective reallocation of funding that would allow priorities to be met at the local level," Taylor said, adding she intends to be actively involved in the effort to persuade state lawmakers.

Councilor Bill Martinson said it's tough to hear state officials squabbling over what to do with a surplus and cutting rebate checks "as we're running on fumes over here."

Tulsa is largely dependent on volatile sales tax revenue to provide basic services, while the state enjoys a diverse financial portfolio that includes income taxes and oil and gas production taxes, as well as sales taxes, Martinson said.

"This would be an opportunity for the state to make an investment in its municipalities that drive the economy," he said.

The half-cent idea emerged from discussions between state Rep. Fred Jordan, R-Jenks, and Jenks officials.

Jordan said he hasn't yet decided whether to sponsor a bill on the issue.

"I'm still in the early stages of this," he said. "I like that it's not a tax increase. But if we take this money from the state, it's got to come from somewhere. There's no guarantee we're going to continue having surpluses."

However, the OML is already running with the proposal.

"This is something that would improve the quality of life of everyone in the state," Interim Executive Director Carolyn Stager said.

One piece of the puzzle:
Tulsa officials cautioned that the state money would only be a fraction of what's needed to fix the city's streets.

"It's going to take a mix of funding options to solve our problem, with this being just one of them," Martinson said.

Tulsa is faced with $600 million in repairs to bring the streets from the equivalent of a "D" grade on the Pavement Condition Index to a "C."

Once that is done, the city each year would have to devote $33 million to arterials and $62 million to residential streets simply to maintain that grade, according to the Public Works Department.

Mid-Terms

Week ten was actually a really good week. It was once again started with a lot of information. Gangs and informants was the agenda for the day and I think we were all looking forward to this block. The instructors lived up to my expectations. It makes it a lot easier to sit in a classroom for many hours when the instructors demonstrate they have a passion for what they do. The instructors that taught the informants and information block could have easily thrown up some power points and called it a day. Instead we were provided really useful information and they got the class involved. It is instructors like the ones we had this day that remind all of us how important our job is along with how much fun we can have doing it.

Typically Tuesday is a range day and a range day it was. But this day was night fire. Our hours were adjusted and we didn't have to report to the range until late afternoon. I would love to say that it was a lazy morning and it was a day to relax but in fact it was not.

Better yet, the class was fit for uniforms. Maybe to some reading this it isn't a big deal but it was to most of us. The academy is tough and sometimes it is really difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Putting on the uniform was a glimpse at the flicker of light.

The day just kept getting better. Night fire was a lot of fun. Of course when we got to the range the sun was out and it was business as usual. We shot our normal courses of fire with out handguns and shotguns. This was fun like it usually is but it only got better. The range staff set up a course that encompassed both shotgun and handgun. Not only was it just a shooting course but a lot of running and jumping.

After most of the class ran this course it was time to eat. Our class followed the tradition of previous classes and BBQ. This wasn't just burgers and dogs. The class pitched in money and made side dishes. The Fire Marshall in our class started smoking brisket, chicken, and bologna that morning. It is an understatement to describe the food as awesome.

OK now I'm stuffed and I had to make a comment about what was going to happen to my food once I walked back out onto the range. By this time it was dark and the flashlights came out. If I learned anything this night turn out the lights, throw the flashlight away, and there will be nothing but air in the middle of the target.

Tuesday night was one of the best academy days we have had thus far but Wednesday morning we struggled. I was up until 2:00 a.m. cleaning both guns that I had shot the night before. If you think we got to sleep in think again. We were information bright and early. On average most of us got anywhere from3-4 hours of sleep. It was a great testament to how little our brains function with no sleep.

Det. Russo taught Sex Crimes this same morning. Even with the class having no sleep and Det. Russo not feeling well he has been one of my favorite instructors. He was one of the instructors that was passionate about teaching us not only the mechanics of Sex Crimes but also put us in the shoes of the victim. Even with a one minute exercise it was really eye opening to see how uncomfortable it has to be for both the victim and the officer. The exercise consisted of pairing with a classmate, one being the interviewer and one being the interviewee. The interviewer has one minute to formulate questions to ask the interviewee regarding the intimate details of their last sexual encounter. After the minute was over Det. Russo said we did not have to actually ask or answer any questions but it truly made the point of how uncomfortable it is to be in both roles.

Because the schedule has changed so much recently I wasn't sure what the schedule had in store for us on Friday. I have to say the surprise was nice. Sgt. Eckert, who is our Range Master, was our instructor for the day. The class had been looking forward to this time with him and it came sooner than what we expected. I have spoken a lot about instructors having a passion for what they do. Sgt. Eckert is no exception to this. He is passionate, humble, and is really good at what he does. For someone who is new and in an environment to learn the basics he reminds us all what a great life we have ahead of us.

He could have taught underwater basket weaving this day and we would have been glued on every word. Instead Sgt. Eckert taught Introduction to Patrol and it was a great class. This is supposed to be the boring time with him so I cannot wait for the exciting classes. There is so much to learn from Sgt. Eckert personally and professionally.

Monday is actually the day we take our mid-term tests. The time has flown but we still have a little more than half way to go. We have had ten weeks of classes and I still don't feel like I know anything. I can only hope that when I graduate I know a little more than what I think I know.

APO Amy Hoehner

Sex offenders in Sapulpa are put on notice

By DAVID SCHULTE World Staff Writer
10/25/2007

They are being told to move because they live too near a new park.

SAPULPA -- Police on Wednesday began notifying dozens of registered sex offenders who live in motels near a new park to move, but whether they must do so remains unclear because of upcoming changes in the state's sex-offender laws.

In September, the city of Sapulpa bought about a half-acre of land for a park northwest of the motels, which previously served as a safe haven for sex offenders who are required by state law to live outside a 2,000-square-foot radius of schools, parks, playgrounds and child-care facilities.

The majority of the motels, including Interstate Inn Express, Gateway Motor Hotel, Rest Inn and Crystal Motel, are near the Town West shopping center, between the 5400 and 5600 blocks of West Skelly Drive.

The park, recently named the W.G. and Dolores Bushyhead Memorial Park, opens Friday, and Sapulpa police are delivering notifications to sex offenders saying they need to leave or face felony charges.

"We're going to give them until Dec. 31 to move," said Capt. Pete Sellers, who monitors sex offenders living in Sapulpa.

If they remain in the motels after the start of the new year, police would ask prosecutors to "charge them with being in violation of the state's Sex Offenders Registration Act," Police Chief Jim Wall said.

Any charges would be filed by the Tulsa County District Attorney's Office because the motels are in Tulsa County, he added.

District Attorney Tim Harris said that because of upcoming changes in the state's sex-offender laws, he is uncertain about whether the sex offenders living near the park would be forced to move.

According to the law that goes into effect Nov. 1, "establishment of a day care center or park in the vicinity of the residence of a registered sex offender will not require the relocation of the sex offender or the sale of the property."

Wall said the Police Department did not receive any notice about changes in the state's sex-offender laws until Sept. 11, but he added that the city began making plans to put a park near the shopping center more than six months ago.

When told of Harris' uncertainty about whether the sex offenders must move, Sapulpa police stood firm on their position that when the park opens Friday, it is time for the sex offenders to find new places to live.

"We're still under the old law for these people near day-care centers and parks," Maj. Mike Haefner said. "They have to move."

Haefner and Wall maintained that current sex-offender laws do not provide a grandfather clause that would allow sex offenders to remain at the motels.

Last May, Charlie Price, a spokesman for the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office, agreed with Sapulpa officials that no residency grandfather clause exists in the state's sex-offender laws.

Sapulpa City Attorney David Widdoes informed the City Council during a recent meeting that he believes that the sex offenders would have to move because state law does not consider motels to be permanent places of residency.

David Schulte 665-8093
david.schulte@tulsaworld.com

Copyright Tulsa World 2007. Format differs from original publication.

Families prepare for HB 1804

(TULSA, Okla.) October 22 - A lawsuit seeking to block a state law aimed at illegal immigrants has been thrown out of court.

That added fuel to the fire at a meeting tonight hosted by Tulsa's Hispanic community.  Members of the community met with local police to discuss house bill 1804.

The law goes into effect next week but there are a lot of questions about how it will be enforced.
 
Tonight's meeting addressing those concerns.

FOX23 spoke with one woman who wanted to keep her identity a secret.  Her biggest fear is being arrested and forced back to Mexico without her daughter.  “What's going to happen with my child?" she wonders.

Deputy Chief Mark McCrory says police policy is not to pull someone over because of their race or ask for papers.  Local police say they will never do round-ups of illegals.  He also explains a felony transportation stop.  “Human trafficing.  Not for running children to the daycare, your wives to get care. That is how we are going to enforce that."

That may not end the concerns of the Hispanic community but after listening to what officers had to say, at least one illegal immigrant was willing to wait it out.
"I'm going to wait to see what's happening."

Police handed out flyers tonight that explain what violations would lead to an arrest and in turn deportation.  You can pick up one of the flyers at the police department.

The new law goes into effect November 1.  It creates barriers for illegals to receive public benefits and jobs.  It also makes it a felony to transport or harbor illegals.

Late today, a U.S. District Judge dismissed the lawsuit, which hoped to block the law, saying none of the plaintiffs had been injured by the law.  However, he says someone could still challenge the law's constitutionality.

Copyright KOKI 2007.

Flooded

The other night, a deluge hit Tulsa. Down-pouring heavy rains quickly flooded the streets, overflowed creeks and storm drains, as if monsoon season had just begun. Roads were quickly impassable and dozens of officers were posted at places where the rainwater was hazardously deep.

It wouldn't have been so bad: blocking off an intersection, helping a few people out of their cars, and then getting dry. However, two critical events coincided: 1) the clouds above seemed to have dumped as much water as physically possible in the shortest amount of time; 2) bars and clubs were closing their doors for the morning 2 AM curfew. Yup, we had a wonderful mixture of overflowing streets-and "overflowing" drivers.

I was standing in the middle of a busy, four-lane road. It was a road, but looked more like a lake. I was wearing a bright green fluorescent safety vest-as green and fluorescent as an early 80s Madonna concert. I was also waving a flashlight bright enough to double as an airport runway light. And I was standing next to a police car with enough lights flashing to give any shopping mall Christmas tree envy. You couldn't miss me-or so I thought.

There was about 3-feet of rushing water with three or four cars nearly floating in the middle. You'd figure most people would realize that maybe "something" was going on. You'd figure that most folks might be at least, somewhat curious, and maybe even slow down a bit to poke around and see what was happening. Not so for the several drunk-drivers that passed me by.

Among other things, you can tell a drunk driver by the way they look at you, but also how they don't look at you. When people drive drunk, they get "tunnel-vision." That is, they tend to narrowly focus on what's directly in front of them. Like the steering wheel and the blurry weird stuff in front of their windshield. And if you're standing beside them as they drive by, you can tell instantly that they're drunk just how they sorta stare ahead and don't notice any other darn thing around them (like police cars or police officers).

Normally, if you're working an accident or directing traffic, when a drunk driver whizzes by, there's not much you can do, except for maybe getting on the radio and letting other officers know about the car. Sometimes, when we're not busy with other calls, we might even be able to stop them. But for the most part, they whiz by.

But tonight was different. I knew that if anyone passed me by, they'd be stopping, without a doubt. One way or another, the overflowing creek rushing across the road would stop them.

A Week of Daze

To say the least the beginning of the ninth week was less than pleasurable. I flew home Monday evening after a Academy class day of non-traffic related deaths and fingerprinting. I tried to stay as focused as possible but it was difficult. My grandfather's funeral was Tuesday morning and it was hard to concentrate on anything else. After attending the funeral Tuesday morning, I flew back to Tulsa late that night.

On Wednesday I could be best described as the walking dead. I was tired and mentally not all there. The other side of it is "business is business" and personal issues had to be set aside. As tough as it was, I have a commitment to the academy. That commitment means everyday, not just when I am having good days.

The remainder of the week was filled with small blocks of classroom and geography. Thursday, of course, was a range day. This was my first day back to the range this particular week and I was behind the curve. The rest of the class qualified on Tuesday and I was the only one left. Let me say that isn't a good feeling. To make a long story short, while the class was off doing fun stuff I was working on qualifying. I was able to finally breath a sigh of relief when I shot my final course of fire for qualification and got it done. I think my classmates were as excited for me as I was for myself. I was really stressed out about being a day behind everyone else but the instructors and my classmates saw me through to the end.

APO Amy Hoehner

Ounce of accident prevention

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer
10/20/2007

Tricky interchange gets new cable barriers

TOM GILBERT / Tulsa World
A vehicle whizzes past the newly installed cable barriers alongside the ramp from the eastbound lanes of the Broken Arrow Expressway to southbound U.S. 169. The cable barriers are the first of their kind in the Tulsa area, but more are being installed on Interstate 44.

The first highway cable barriers in Tulsa have been installed along the ramp from the eastbound lanes of the Broken Arrow Expressway to southbound U.S. 169.

The cable barriers have several safety advantages and cost less than other types of barriers, Oklahoma Department of Transportation spokesman David Meuser said.

"They really have proven effective where we have used them before, and we are really grateful that we have the money to be able to put them throughout the state," he said.

Meuser attributed that to legislative appropriations.

When installed on Oklahoma City's Lake Hefner Parkway in 2001, the cable barrier was the first of its kind in the United States.

Meuser said that barrier has been struck more than 600 times and has prevented several head-on collisions.

The cable barriers have other advantages, according to ODOT.

"Less energy is reflected back into the vehicle when a vehicle strikes a cable barrier rather than a concrete barrier, so there should be less injury," Meuser said.

Also, repairs to the barrier can be made quickly after accidents.

Cable barriers are used mostly in highway medians to prevent crossover accidents. But authorities have said the ramp from the Broken Arrow Expressway to U.S. 169 is a good place for their use.

Motorists have had to be rescued after their vehicles slid off the ramp and plunged into Mingo Creek, just east of the ramp.

One person was killed and 16 people were injured as a result of 30 crashes there in 2004 and 2005, the department's records show. The crashes resulted in nearly $200,000 worth of property damage.

Statistics show that most of the crashes at the ramp were a result of people driving at unsafe speeds, following too closely or making improper lane changes.

ODOT workers have said nothing is wrong with the ramp's engineering.

But after a Tulsa World open records request seeking data about traffic accidents at the spot, the agency announced in March 2006 that it would install the cable barriers along the ramp.

The cable barriers along both sides of the ramp are part of a safety improvement project that is being implemented on the Broken Arrow Expressway.

In an eight-year program by the Transportation Department, 270 miles of cable barriers will be installed along high-traffic corridors across the state.

Installation already is under way for the second set of cable barriers, in the Interstate 44 median between Lewis Avenue and 41st Street, according to ODOT. That barrier system is expected to be complete in early November.

Nicole Marshall 581-8459
nicole.marshall@tulsaworld.com

Copyright Tulsa World 2007. Format differs from original publication.

Almost Half Way Home

And the countdown has begun; almost half way home. The past ten weeks have been, well, different. When we weren't getting in trouble, we were wondering what we were about to get in trouble for. As things got better, we were slapped down with some rookie mistake we made again. Then, to ice the cake, it is rumor-mill and dealing with the frustration of not being able to dispute the stories that seemed to circulate everywhere.

Week eight began with report writing. You would think that it would have been boring but, in all actuality, it was pretty interesting. Once again it was a matter of seeing the previous seven weeks coming together. The instructors reinforced the importance of knowing elements of a crime. If an officer does not know what the law is than how can you enforce the law. Even more so for the purpose of the class, it is imperative to know the elements of crimes to write a report that will tell the story when the case goes to court.

The remainder of the week was spent at the range, speaking Spanish, and ended with Child Crisis. Thus far the academy has been about learning the mechanics of law enforcement. Child Crisis was a lot different than the classes we have had up until this point. The class began with watching a video of children, in Tulsa, that have been abused and/or killed. It was truly heart-wrenching. The course material consisted of laws, policy and procedure, and the different types of abuse. The instructor did a great job of presenting the material. It takes a special kind of person to investigate this type of hideous crime.

After I left class that day I received a call from my mom letting me know that my grandfather had passed away. Over the weekend I had to make arrangements to fly home for the services and on top of that help with them. At first I wasn't going to go home because I was worried about missing something in the academy. I quickly realized that I would regret missing the funeral more.

APO Amy Hoehner

Police Take New Approach To Missing Persons Cases

KOTV - 10/18/2007 5:50 PM - Updated 10/18/2007 5:58 PM

Murder cases are devastating to families and a top priority for detectives. There are families who say not knowing what happened to their loved one is just as agonizing. They are the families of people who are missing. These cases often have often taken a backseat to more immediate cases for investigators, but not anymore. News On 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright reports Tulsa detectives are revamping their approach to missing person cases, in order to get the answers families so desperately need.

Edward Roden still can't talk about his niece without crying. Kimberly Mullens was 33 and the mother of four children when she disappeared in 1998. She'd given birth to her youngest, just a few weeks before.

Kim Mullens was in an abusive marriage, and family members say they were told she'd run off with another man. They became suspicious and reported her disappearance to police. That was nearly ten years ago. Her family fears the worst.

"If something has happened to her, justice needs to be served over it. Her whole family loves her. She has a right to a decent burial,” said her uncle Edward Roden.

Tulsa's homicide squad room houses notebooks filled with about three dozen missing persons cases that detectives fear are the victims of foul play.

"When you start talking about looking for a needle in a haystack, that's what we do. There are methods we go through to establish they are not in existence," said Tulsa Police Sgt. Mike Huff.

The first step to making these cases a higher priority is to put them on the police department's website so citizens can see pictures, read the stories and send in tips.

Detectives also created a better screening system so they'll know faster which cases are suspicious. Plus, they'll be working with national groups like the DNA Project at the University of North Texas. They collect DNA from unidentified remains and compare it to missing people.

"It is a very hard thing for families to work with. There is no closure here and they know their family member is out there somewhere missing,” said Tulsa Police Sgt. Mike Huff.

Police say 99% of the missing people resurface after a day or two or want to be gone. It's not a crime to be missing. And, people leave for lots of reasons sometimes family or mental health. But, there is still that 1% that is agony for families. For them, any answer is better than not knowing.

Copyright KOTV 6 2007.

To visit the TPD website, click here:  http://www.tulsapolice.org/missingperson/Search.asp

Pre-Emptive Strike

TPD's pro-active Safe City Initiative trawls for, nets big fish

BY BRIAN ERVIN
Urban Tulsa Weekly

This year in the City of Tulsa, 51 people have died as a result of violence inflicted on them by another human being. The highest total number of homicides recorded in Tulsa's modern history is 56.

For all anyone knows, homicide no. 52 was averted one night last week by the sharp eyes and hard efforts of two officers who are part of the Tulsa Police Department's "Safe City Initiative."

"This guy was a career criminal. He'll probably be going away for the rest of his life now," Officer Jerad Lindsey of TPD's Uniform Division East told UTW when the arrest was made.

As a part of the task force's focus on certain "hot spots" in the city where violent crime is known to happen most frequently, Officers Cal Kaiser and Eric Hill's trained instincts told them to pull the man over, and they quickly discovered his concealed firearm, the two outstanding warrants for his arrest on drug-related charges and the numerous felony charges on his record.

Of course, since he was caught before he had a chance to put that gun to use, one can only speculate on what his plans were that night, and what gruesome headline his activities might have inspired in the next day's news.

"The impact is immeasurable. Since we can only measure the crimes that do happen, we can never know what crimes we've prevented," said Lindsey.

That particular arrest was among many to result as part of the Safe City Initiative, he said.

Capt. Matt Kirkland and Deputy Chief Mark McCrory conceived the operation, in collaboration with Mayor Kathy Taylor's office, Lindsey said.

It was an outgrowth of the "highly successful" Operation: Bullet Trap, which was a focused "warrant roundup," Lindsey said, targeting violent offenders with gang affiliations.

He said the Safe City Initiative expands on that strategy by pairing the efforts of patrol officers with those of undercover officers in unmarked cars.

For the same reason he wouldn't divulge where those "hot spots" are (even though we drove to several of them, but I'm not talking), lest he scare the fish, so to speak, Lindsey also wouldn't say how many officers are involved, except that half are in unmarked cars, half in marked, and all are drawn from TPD's three Uniform Divisions to create a sort of "mini-police force within the department" as "a more specialized tool to fight a specific problem."

The officers on special assignment for the Safe City Initiative are addressing that problem of violent crime by being "proactive instead of reactive" by, instead of "running from call to call to call" and going to the scene after a crime has already occurred, they're going where violent crimes can most be expected to occur and preventing them before they happen, he explained.

"We're not going after some 20-year-old with a joint--we're going after gang members and gun crimes," said Lindsey.

"We're going after that one percent of the population that we're usually spending 90 percent of our time on," he added.

On top of the crime-fighting activities of the operation, Lindsey said it also works as a mentoring program.

Teaching How to Fish

The undercover officers share their training and experience in tracking and catching career criminals with patrol officers, who will then take that knowledge back with them to share with colleagues when their special assignments are over.

Since the operation began on Aug. 26, 115 arrests have been made, 77 of which were for felony charges.

While that may or may not seem like a lot of bad elements off the street, Lindsey said these weren't small fish.

The total past convictions in those career criminals' collective record numbers around 10,000, he said, ranging from misdemeanors to violent crimes.

One of most recent of those arrests was a 16-year-old charged with armed robbery, among other offenses.

Police believe he is one of the four people involved in a recent rash of armed robberies committed in rapid succession over the past few weeks.

The modus operandi of these robbers is to threaten victims at gunpoint and/or pistol whip them, grab their belongings and flee in what police believe are stolen vehicles, and then repeat the process with some other hapless victim(s) a few blocks away.

At the time of this writing, though, the juvenile's partners in crime were still at large and, while the efforts of the Safe City Initiative are focused squarely on catching them, TPD spokesman Officer Leland Ashley said citizen involvement can also help, both to prevent being victimized and to catch the serial robbers.

"Remain alert, and call 911 if you see anything suspicious," he said.

"If a person has a gun pointed at you, give them whatever they want," Ashley also advised, adding, "But, try to be the best possible witness: pay attention to distinguishing characteristics like tattoos or earrings."

He also encourages anyone with information about the at-large robbers to call 596-COPS. Callers will remain anonymous, and rewards between $200-1,000 are available for information that might lead to their arrest.

Copyright Urban Tulsa Weekly 2007. Format differs from original publication.

Tulsa Police use new DNA test

(TULSA, Okla.) October 15 –

A man accused of raping an 85-year-old woman pleads not guilty. James Edward Mack, Jr., 32, is accused of the attack back in 2001. The victim was found a few blocks away from her nursing home after she had gone missing. Officers say they've matched Mack's DNA to the crime scene, but it took them five years to do it.

Tulsa police are using new DNA testing to catch rape suspects. It’s called "Y-STR" DNA testing. "It's excellent in cases when you wouldn't have anything else to do otherwise", says Valerie Fuller with the Tulsa Police Department’s Forensic department.

The traditional way of DNA testing took months or years to track down the suspect, but in high profile cases Y-STR is used when massive amounts of female DNA and very little male are found at a crime.

"You would never want to use this test when it's first round testing. You hope to narrow things down with our regular testing procedure. And then if you have to further exclude people you would use this test", Valerie says.

Like in the case of convicted serial rapist Gary Graham. Tulsa police say he's the first man in Oklahoma to go behind bars using Y-STR DNA testing. They say with multiple descriptions and victims, Y-STR testing was crucial in linking him to the string of rapes.

Valerie said, "We had many victims in that case. [With] most of the victims the traditional DNA testing worked just fine, but in two of the cases one of them was our youngest victim, we had DNA information that was just too weak to detect with our test."

Tulsa forensic experts say Graham's conviction validated this type of DNA testing in the courts, which could play a role in the James Mack, Jr. court case.

It could also help find the rapist who assaulted a five-year-old Broken Arrow girl last month. "When you do a get a match it'll be about one and four thousand. It's not exclusion, but it's not as a great numbers as a jury is usually used to hearing as one and a million", Valerie says.

Tulsa police say there are about 30 other cases that are centered around finding male DNA.

It costs Tulsa police $500 to send a DNA sample to Utah, where it's tested. However, officers they say they'll be able to test it in Tulsa by the end of the year.

Copyright KOKI FOX 23 Tulsa 2007.

Meth making in state keeps on declining

By CLIFTON ADCOCK World Staff Writer

10/15/2007

The number of labs uncovered by law enforcement has plummeted in the past three years.

Three years after Oklahoma enacted a law cracking down on the sale of ingredients for methamphetamine, and one year after a similar federal law was passed, meth lab seizures in Oklahoma continue to decline dramatically.

Information from the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control shows that the total number of clandestine meth labs processed by police in Oklahoma City and Tulsa and by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation this year has fallen seven-fold from the number during the same period in 2004.

As of July, the agencies had worked 86 meth labs, compared with 608 by July 2004.

Tulsa alone also had a dramatic decrease from 2004's numbers, with 14 meth labs so far in 2007 -- 8-1/2 times fewer than the 119 in the first nine months of 2004.

Teen sees dangers of night life

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer

10/14/2007

View behind police car windshield offers new perspective

Amanda Parker, 18, recently rode along with Tulsa Police Cpl. Mike Fitzgerald one night after asking her parents’ permission to go to a club with friends. It was an eye-opening experience for the Jenks High School senior

When Amanda Parker, 18, asked her parents whether she could go to a nightclub with friends, they called the police.

To show her the dangers she might face if she were out late at night, they arranged to have her ride along with Cpl. Mike Fitzgerald, a member of the Safe City Initiative task force that started work Aug. 26.

"My parents wanted to show me what the real world was like," Parker said.

Capt. Matt Kirkland, the supervisor of the Safe City Initiative, said the unit was targeting certain clubs because at least five homicides and several shootings have taken place this year at clubs or after confrontations that started in their parking lots.

He thought it was a great idea to have Parker ride with an officer.

"A lot of times people who are her age don't get the opportunity to find out what is really going on in the city behind the scenes," Kirkland said.

"They only see fun to be had and don't realize there are some dangerous situations they could easily fall into, even if they are not going out with the intent of getting in trouble or with the intent of hanging out with bad people."

Parker, a senior at Jenks High School, said she thought she might want to go to a club because "it was just something to do -- dance, have fun."

She said she leads a sheltered life but that she saw a whole other world when she rode with Fitzgerald on a recent Saturday night.

They left the police station about 5 p.m., and the ride-along lasted until 3 a.m., she said.

Within the first few minutes, Fitzgerald had to answer a call about a first-degree burglary in progress. Parker had to stay in the car for her safety while Fitzgerald took the sus pected burglar -- who fought with the officer -- into custody.

"The rest of the night we kind of followed up on calls. We went to some clubs, and he showed me the kind of people that hang out there," Parker said.

Fitzgerald took her through the parking lots of some clubs and pointed out some people who he said were gang members, she said.

"They were all dressed the same, and they were waiting outside for someone," she said.

"The officer said it is not uncommon for someone in the parking lots to have guns."

Also during the shift, Fitzgerald took her to the Tulsa Jail to show her a holding cell and the 911 call center.

"It was very interesting," she said. "I am not used to seeing that part of town."

Parker said she learned that it is not very safe to be out after about midnight.

Now she is sharing her experiences with her friends.

"I told them about the reality of the world . . . the stuff that really goes on at night," she said.

New 911 system to locate cell calls

By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer

10/6/2007

Tulsa and other area cities signed off Friday on a five-year, $9.4 million contract with AT&T for a new 911 emergency call management system that can locate wireless callers.

It is being paid for with a 50-cent-per-month cell phone charge that voters approved in December 2005 and that has been collected since early 2006.

The Regional 911 Board, organized through the Indian Nations Council of Governments, received bids from companies earlier this year, and AT&T's was the lowest.

"Nearly 50 percent of our calls now come from wireless phones," Board Vice Chairman Larry White said. "To do our job, we need to know where these people are. This new system will give us the technology to do just that."

In addition to Tulsa, the other participating governments include Claremore, Collinsville, Glenpool, Jenks, Owasso, Sand Springs, Sapulpa and Skiatook, as well as Rogers County.

The first part of the system will be installed in Tulsa's 911 Center when it moves to the Lansing Business Park in January. The rest should be operational shortly after that.

"This is absolutely essential for public safety," Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor said.

"Working together, the local governments in this region have selected a high-quality 911 call system that will meet our collective needs."

The system will use new technologies to find wireless callers within a 50-foot radius.

As it works now, 911 operators must ask wireless callers for landmarks to locate them if the callers don't know where they are. It can be life-threatening if a caller can't speak.

"This is the merging of anytime, anywhere communication devices and public safety," said Bill Lane, AT&T's vice president of sales.

"When people need help, help needs to be able to get there, wherever they are."

The 50-cent charge is permanent to continue paying for the necessary equipment and maintenance, said Darita Huckabee of INCOG.

"Every five years, we're going to have to pay for a new contract like this one," she said.

Brian Barber 581-8322

brian.barber@tulsaworld.com

Copyright Tulsa WOrld 2007. Format differs from original publication.

Officers face many risks while working on our roadways

By Kevin P. Morison

October 2007

Just after midnight on October 22, 2006, Deputy Sheriff Margena Silvia Nunez, of the Lee County (FL) Sheriff's Office, was doing something that law enforcement officers do every day: directing traffic around the scene of an accident, in this case a fatal crash on State Road 82.

The seven-year veteran had placed flares on the roadway and activated the emergency lights on her patrol car to divert traffic from the accident scene. But a drunk driver, oblivious to these and other safety measures, plowed through the roadblock and struck and killed Deputy Nunez.

The daughter of a police officer and mother of two teenagers, Deputy Nunez was remembered for her smile and devotion to duty. "The day before her tragic death, Margena received a commendation for saving the life of a mentally ill person who was trying to commit suicide," Sheriff Mike Scott said at her funeral.

Her brother, the Rev. Paul Edwards of Toronto, officiated at the service, telling the 1,000-plus mourners that his sister had found her calling as a deputy. "Time does not end my purpose - purpose ends my time," he preached.

Deputy Nunez was one of 15 law enforcement officers around the country who were struck and killed by other vehicles in similarly horrendous fashion during 2006. Last year's total is about average for the last 30 years, during which 490 law enforcement officers were struck and killed by automobiles while outside of their own vehicles. According to records kept by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), that figure represents about nine percent of all peace officer fatalities during the last three decades, making it the third highest cause of line of duty deaths among officers, behind shootings and automobile crashes

When It’s Time…

There isn’t much humor or fun to this post. So if you don’t want your day to turn melancholy or downright morbid, read something else…

I’m sure most of us at one point or another think about our death, how it will happen, when it will happen, what it will feel like, etc. I’ve never fixated on the subject, but sure, the thought does cross my mind. My own mortality comes a bit more into focus sometimes, after certain calls and leaving certain crime scenes.

Cops probably see more gruesome tragedies more regularly than most folks. And admittedly, we sometimes deal with them in seemingly odd, off-beat, or insensitive ways. But in some ways joking about a "good shooting" or a "good stabbing" helps to disassociate bad things in your head so you can leave the scene and then go help Mrs. Jones deal with her neighbor’s barking dog on the next call without losing your sanity.

But sometimes, the reality of tragedy can unexpectedly grab onto you a bit. The other night, two people ran out of gas on the highway and were killed in traffic. The call started on the police radio as a request to assist a motorist, but suddenly changed to a collision involving a pedestrian…then another.

I purposefully went out of my way to avoid the scene. Admittedly, crime scenes can be fascinating, but I wasn’t in the mood for tragedy. So, I went rolling around a few areas checking on things waiting to take calls while half the division was tied up with the accident and closing down the highways. I purposefully couldn’t have been farther away from the scene. Yet coincidentally, the wayward chaplain finds me in a parking lot. He was misinformed about the location of the accident, and miles away, so I escorted him to the scene.

While there, I was told to go find a grieving relative of one of the victim’s who was trying to get to the scene through a field. We found him. Coincidentally, I met this guy the night before when he approached me about a trespasser near his business. Another weird coincidence.

After getting family members with the chaplain, my good friend SMITTY asked me to help sketch a diagram of the evidence on the roadway. SMITTY had the daunting task of handling the investigation and report, which includes diagrams and measurements and all sorts of other formulations. He had his hands more than full, so of course I helped him out.

Truth be told, a lot went through my mind as I documented each of the twenty-two items—but none of my thoughts had anything to do with diagrams and evidence; more with tragedy.

Things like this aren’t supposed to happen. People shouldn’t tragically lose their lives on the highway. Unfortunate survivors involved in the accident and eye-witnesses shouldn’t have to suffer the agony of remembering moments they’ll probably never forget. And families shouldn’t be left to grieve.

Unfortunately, it’s part of life—and at times, despairingly so. And sometimes, things like this leave you thinking about what really matters…

Off. Jay Chiarito-Mazzarella

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Austin police switching cruisers to black and white

Officers say the two-tone color scheme will make them more identifiable.

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF, Austin TX

Several months ago, when Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo was in town from California, he and his wife were dining downtown and needed a ride back to their hotel. So, they tried to wave down a cab.

But as the white car drove toward them, they noticed that something wasn't quite right.

Austin police soon will switch to a more traditional black and white cruiser to prevent such occurrences. Police say the color scheme is more visible than the white cars with reflective decals they use now, which are often confused with vehicles not used by police.

"By having a black and white color scheme, people know exactly what they're looking at," Acevedo said. "If you're going to commit a crime, but you keep seeing black-and-whites in the area ... you're going to go somewhere else."

Around Austin, Capital Metro and the city also use white Ford Crown Victorias, officials said. The Police Department's first batch of 108 two-tone Ford Crown Victoria Interceptors, which cost about $24,000 each, are expected to arrive by the end of the year, Lt. Craig Cannon said. The rest of the city's about 300 marked police cruisers, he said, will be replaced over the next three years.

The recommendation to switch color schemes came from the department's uniform and equipment committee at least a year ago - months before Acevedo got here - but the idea was left on the table, said Cannon, who is co-chairman of the committee. Acevedo approved the recommendation when he became chief.

Black and white police cars became prominent across the nation in the 1950s, as departments tried to distinguish their vehicles from civilian cars, said Travis Yates, a police captain in Tulsa, Okla., who operates the Web site policedriving.com.

And people still link black and white to police cruisers, he said.

"Just like a firetruck is red, police cars are black and white," Yates said.

It's unclear whether the Austin Police Department has ever used black and white police cars. Cannon said he didn't know. The Police Department's fleet manager, Karen Bitzer, didn't either.

Hays County Sheriff Allen Bridges, who worked for the Austin Police Department from 1972 to 1997, said he has a picture from the 1940s of an Austin police cruiser that looks black and white. Then again, he said, "the picture is black and white."

And shortly before Leroy Opiela, now a lieutenant with the Hays County sheriff's office, joined the Austin Police Department in 1969, officers drove cruisers in several colors with no lights on the roof, he said. "Whatever color came off the showroom floor," Opiela said.

He rode around in a white cruiser as a rookie, and the department switched to blue and white cars the next year, he said.

The department changed to white cruisers with reflective decals in 1992 in an effort to make them more noticeable, Cannon said.

But around the turn of the millennium, Cannon said, departments across the country realized that there is a plethora of white cars on the streets, and they decided their cruisers were not distinctive enough.

So, departments started going back to black and white, Cannon said. "It's much easier to identify who's who," he said.

A little more than 10 years ago, senior patrol officer Joe Muñoz was in his patrol car at Sixth and Trinity streets just after dark when he heard a knock behind him.

"Somebody started banging on my back door, telling me to take them to some hotel," Muñoz said. "I rolled down my window and said, 'Excuse me,' and the guy was surprised it was a police car."

After the incident, Muñoz said, he'd frequently hang his left arm outside his window so people would notice his police patch.

mliscano@statesman.com

Copyright American-Statesman 2007. Format differs from original publication.

A force for change

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer

10/8/2007

TPD Chief Ron Palmer reviews 30 days on the job

A month into his second term as Tulsa's police chief, Ron Palmer says he's glad to be back.

He is getting settled in and adjusting to how the department has changed since he retired from the post five years ago.

In some ways, he sees this as his second chance -- a chance to employ the ways that he has changed to help the department move forward.

''It is a different type of feeling in that it is almost like a guiding, team-building role this time more than it was in the past,'' Palmer said.

''I think I am a little bit more laidback in that I listen better. I know I listen better than I have in the past.''

Palmer returned as the city's chief Sept. 3. He has said he had no intention of returning to the Police Department when he left the force but that he was honored when Mayor Kathy Taylor offered him the job.

The department had been without a permanent chief since May 1, when Dave Been retired.

Palmer said he believes that officers are enthusiastic about having reached a point where the department is stabilizing.

''What is really neat about coming back, to me, is the obvious enthusiasm that has been out there about getting back into crime fighting and pushing the administrative issues aside and being on the front page about fighting crime as opposed to being on front page about what might be happening in the headquarters building,'' Palmer said.

The goal of the chief's sec ond term is clearly unification, both inside the department and within the Tulsa community.

Since returning to duty, Palmer said he has been approached by people in all areas of the city -- including grocery store lines and at restaurants -- who told him how glad they are to see him back as chief.

''That is very gratifying," he said. "I don't know if I have earned those compliments yet. That remains to be seen.''

Greeted by change: The most visible change in the department since Palmer left in 2002 is the officers' uniforms. The department formerly wore green and taupe uniforms but in November 2005 they changed to dark blue. Palmer said that isn't a big deal for him personally because he has worked for three police departments and worn five different uniforms.

''My bottom line is that I am proud it says 'TPD' on the side. Whatever color it is, it is the same organization; it's the same good people.''

Palmer said he has noticed three major differences in department operations and the challenges police face. The first difference is largely administrative.

He has had to learn what it takes to keep the department in compliance with both the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies and the federal consent decree that settled a racial discrimination lawsuit.

The second difference is the explosion of technology -- especially in internal communications -- that the department has seen in just five years.

''I haven't stifled that, but for me a face-to-face conversation oftentimes has a lot more meaning, and I can glean a lot more information than in e-mailing and typing back and forth without even seeing the person,'' Palmer said.

The collection of data and its use for crime analysis has also expanded in the time since he left, and the department's Web site has made the officers more accessible to the public.

''It is a lot better -- kind of an old dog-new tricks thing for me in some regards -- but I am catching on and understanding and appreciating the technological advances and how they have helped us,'' Palmer said.

TPD's Safe City Initiative is making headway

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer

10/5/2007

A month into a citywide crackdown on violent crime, police have arrested 113 people, 30 of whom are classified as career criminals.

Within one month, the Tulsa Police Department's Safe City Initiative officers have arrested 113 people and seized 11 guns, authorities announced Thursday.

The citywide effort, launched Aug. 26, uses officers from each of the Police Department's uniform divisions to target violent crime by sharing information, analyzing data and saturating high-crime areas.

The effort already has made a difference, city officials said Thursday.

Mayor Kathy Taylor congratulated the Police Department and thanked the officers for their efforts on the task force.

"The strategy is really about working together to gather that data, working with the officers on the beat and working with the neighborhoods and making sure our city is safe, one neighborhood at time," Taylor said.

Department heads developed the Safe City Initiative before Police Chief Ron Palmer returned last month to lead the department after retiring five years ago, but "since then I have learned to appreciate what it means to us," he said Thursday.

The unit has seen success by addressing geographical areas with crime problems, Palmer said.

"What we see -- and we have seen it in all neighborhoods across the city -- is really a recognition of both citizen appreciation of what we are doing and the criminal element recognizing that we are there, as well," he said.

The unit will continue its efforts for 30 more days and then be evaluated again, he said.

Capt. Matt Kirkland said supervising the Safe City Initiative has been one of the most fulfilling things he has done in his 10 years on the police force.

At the beginning of the effort, Safe City officers compiled a list of the 30 most-wanted people who were sought on charges or to be interviewed in connection with violent crimes.

In the last month, the officers have found 10 of those people, and five of them remain in the Tulsa Jail on felony warrants, Kirkland said.

Officers arrested one of those targets -- Cedric Way -- on two robbery warrants late Wednesday.

Task force officers met with Robbery Unit Sgt. Dave Walker earlier that day and received updates on the rash of armed robberies that have been committed recently by groups of people.

The officers were looking for Way and found his car near 10800 E. 31st St., records show. When they approached Way, he got out of the car and fled into an apartment complex, police allege.

A K-9 officer and her police dog found him hiding on an apartment's covered porch.

"It just goes to show that every day, we are trying to address the problem of armed robberies," Kirkland said.

Of the 113 people who were arrested in the last month, 30 were classified by police as "career criminals," their records show.

"So I think you can say that the officers who are working in the Safe City Initiative are really hitting the target population of violent criminals," Kirkland said.

"I am very happy with what they have done."

Nicole Marshall 581-8459

nicole.marshall@tulsaworld.com

Copyright Tulsa World 2007. Format differs from original publication.

RECOVERY - Street Stories

Last night was good night for many reasons. I was rolling around looking for trouble and found some: about a dozen people hanging around in a parking lot; two of whom I recently arrested for guns and dope. And as the adage goes, "where there’s one, there’s sure to be another" (OK, maybe this is more of a fisherman’s prayer than a declaration of ancient wisdom).

So, I stop, get out of the car and check to see what’s going on. It doesn’t take long for more and more people to saunter around. Next thing I know, we’ve got about fifteen people lined up to be identified and checked for weapons. Amazingly, there were none. Yup, no guns and nobody had warrants—amazing. But redeemably, there was a bag of powder cocaine underneath a car where most of them were standing.

Well, if you didn’t see who threw it down, wait to see who picks it up. So, I told my fellow officers JOHNSON and HALE, "Don’t look down, don’t even look at the car, don’t even look in that direction. Play dead and look east over your shoulder to Mecca and pay homage. In fact, close your eyes and stumble blind to your police car! Let’s get outta here!" I didn’t want the gang to think we spotted the coke under the car. So we hopped in our cars pronto. HALE went one way, JOHNSON and I went another so we could ditch our cars, hide out, and wait and see who comes to get the coke.

It didn’t take long. Just as JOHNSON and I were getting into our hiding spot, we noticed a car pull up nearby. JOHNSON says, "Get closer…check and see if it’s still there." As I’m crawling like a crab on the ground trying to keep my duty belt and gear from rattling and scraping the asphalt, I notice a guy walk over to the car. He bends down, looks straight at me from under the car…and then picks up the bag of coke.

At this point, I’m about 20 feet behind him. My legs somehow instinctively threw my body up and headed full steam toward the suspect. I was inspired to share the moment and bellow of one of my favorite quotations, "STOP, TULSA POLICE!"

The suspect panics. He jumps almost two feet in the air. He runs one way, then another. He takes a few strides and tosses the coke in the air. JOHNSON who was running behind me must have caught the bag like a center-fielder going in for a short fly ball near the infield. I chase the suspect toward an apartment door as he tries to run inside.

Then it hits me…that strange sensation where everything slows down. I remember tackling the suspect, falling through the cracked, open door, and landing on the floor. We landed in the middle of the living room surrounded by pot smoking thugs. I looked up to see more eyes and people than I could count. I grabbed my radio with one hand while holding the suspect with the other. "Edward 134…Get me some backers!" Luckily, our police dispatchers took care of the rest. In a slow-motion stupor, I could hear sirens wailing from all directions getting closer and closer. Sometimes, there is no greater feeling than knowing your uniformed brothers and sisters are on their way.

Plenty of help arrived, and we got everyone secured pretty quickly. While securing a person who was sitting on the couch, Officer TEDRICK (who arrived at the scene so fast he seemed to have parachuted from the sky), spots a handgun on the couch. Not really a surprise considering those in attendance at this evening’s soirée, but surprisingly, it was a stolen Tulsa Police pistol. We had just recovered one of our own guns that was stolen from an officer who had been burglarized. It’s great to take a gun off the street, but even better when you get back one of your own.

Hours later, while sorting through paperwork, I carefully packaged the gun for the fingerprint lab. I began thinking about what if this was my gun, stolen from my own home. Aside from feeling ashamed, I’d be worried sick. I’d feel terrible knowing that somehow my own gun was out on the street in the hands of the wrong people. I got a sinking feeling knowing that it could have been my gun that was stolen, and could easily have been used to shoot or kill someone. Sure, this was another gun off the street, but suddenly, it seemed like a whole lot more…

Off. Jay Chiarito-Mazzarella

A step in the right direction

By KIM ARCHER World Staff Writer

10/4/2007

Students reminded of pedestrian safety during a morning stroll

The children held signs that read "Stop" or "Be Safe Be Seen."

For many, these words were reminders of pedestrian safety adages they already knew.

But they agreed that it can't hurt to be reminded.

"You should obey the rules of walking, or you'll get run over," said 10-year-old Madeline Castro, one of more than 300 students who participated in Wednesday's International Walk to School Day at Lanier Elementary School, 1727 S. Harvard Ave.

D.J. Holter, 11, said the event was exciting because students were escorted by motorcycle police on a parade around the school.

"You get to get a good workout," he said. "And I think it really inspires kids to walk the way their parents tell them to."

In the U.S., pedestrian injuries are the No. 2 cause of accidental death among children ages 5 to 14. Each year, more than 630 children are killed and 35,000 are treated in emergency rooms for pedestrian injuries, according to data supplied by Safe Kids Tulsa.

"Walking is a healthy and important activity, but everyone needs to do their part to keep this activity safe for kids," said Mary Beth Ogle, Safe Kids Tulsa's coordinator.

Tulsa is one of 500 communities nationwide that participate in the annual event to raise awareness about pedestrian safety, she said.

"There have been 12 deaths in Oklahoma this year related to pedestrian injuries. That's too many," Ogle said.

Tulsa Police Sgt. Paul Melchior said protecting areas around schools is a priority for his motorcycle squad.

Last year, 1,193 citations were written to drivers speeding in school zones. Of those, 941 were issued by motorcycle police, he said.

Between January and August this year, Melchior said, police issued 1,019 citations in school zones. Of those, 974 were issued by the motorcycle squad.

"We want to commend those drivers who are driving responsibly," he said.

Mark Brown, the city of Tulsa's traffic operations manager, said the city has in the last two years made an effort to upgrade flashing signs, improve crosswalk visibility and replace pedestrian lamps to ensure the safety of pedestrians.

"We have two full-time and 104 part-time crossing guards around the city at about 80 of the schools," he said. "We could use more crossing guards."

After the students toured FedEx trucks and held their parade, Safe Kids Tulsa held two assemblies at Lanier to stress the importance of pedestrian safety. Crash-test dummies Larry and Vince were featured.

Lanier Principal Robert Morris said, "We have serious work to do to make sure every precaution is taken to protect the safety of our children."

10 SAFETY STEPS TO SCHOOL

1. Buckle your safety belt every trip.

2. Wear your helmet every time you ride your bicycle.

3. Stop, look left, look right, and look left again before crossing the street.

4. Stay five giant steps away from the street when waiting for a bus.

5. Cross the street at crosswalks, traffic lights or corners.

6. Be seen when it is dark. Wear light, bright colors and reflective markers.

7. Stop, look and listen before crossing railroad tracks, and never play on or near the tracks.

8. Make sure drivers see you before crossing in front of them.

9. Walk facing traffic.

10. Never ride in the back of a pickup.

Source: Safe Kids Tulsa and the Children’s Hospital at St. Francis

For more information, call Safe Kids at 494-7233 or go online to www.tulsaworld.com/safekids

Kim Archer 581-8315

kim.archer@tulsaworld.com

Copyright Tulsa World 2007. Format differs from original publication.

Jim Smith Day in the City of Tulsa

Friday, October 5, 2007, ha