TPD Blog

National Police Week - Day 1

On October 1, 1962, President Kennedy signed Public Law 87-726 which designated May 15th each year as National Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the week containing May 15th as National Police Week.  It was not until May 15,1982, that the first National Peace Officers' Memorial Day Service was held in Washington D.C,

Each year, thousands of peace officers converge on our Nation's Capital to honor the officers that have died in the previous year and years past.  Currently there are 18,274 officers listed on the National Police Memorial.

Tulsa Police Sergeant Stephanie Jackson was honored as the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund Officer of the Month in December of 2007.  She is present in Washington D.C. this week to be honored for her accomplishments and graciously agreed to write about her experience.

Monday, May 12, 2008:

I was truly moved to tears when I got off the plane there were over 15 honor guard members from different agencies forming a "U" around the exit ramp from the plane waiting for family members of fallen officers. They pinned the moms with the blue cop ribbons and then retrieved their luggage, loaded them in police cars and gave them a motorcycle escort to their next destination.

My husband made friends with a man behind us on the plane and when we arrived at baggage claim his wife was wearing a blue ribbon.  They explained they lost their son in the line of duty.  All I could do was cry and embrace them both and say thank you.  No words can describe the emotional high from watching the honor guard officers serve those families and light up the cold rainy day with a sea of motorcycle and patrol unit lights.  Everyone was just captivated and amazed.  It was so many motorcycle units just coming and going from the airport.

This is an amazing experience and I haven't even really started the trip!

Sergeant Stephanie Jackson
Tulsa Police Department

To See Details About Sergeant Jackson's Award:  Click Here.

To See the 2008 Memorial Activities:  Click Here.

City Looking Into Savings With Nitrogen In Tires

Wed May 07, 2008 - KTUL - Tulsa    reporter: Burt Mummolo

The sign out front says service center, but the look inside says mission control. Thick protective gloves? Go. Frosted pipes? Go. Awesome jet of high pressure gas? Go.

Taxpayers, we are go for savings.

Kellyville Police Chief Bill McWhirt's black Charger is getting four tires full of nitrogen.

"Anything that we can do to increase our fuel mileage. He called me about 9:20 and I was here about 9:40," he says.

Mike Griffin with Southpointe Chrysler Jeep Dodge is offering law enforcement a free swap of gasses because nitrogen purportedly increases gas mileage by 3-5 percent.

With over 600 cruisers in the fleet, the savings could add up to tens of thousands of dollars. The city is considering an official switch for all its vehicles.

"We're over about $3,000 in our fuel budget this year," McWhirt says.

The dealership is also offering nitrogen to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Tulsa County Sheriffs Office, and any other law enforcement agency that wants it.

The dealership normally charges $39.95 for the nitrogen swap. They say the gas can also extend the life of tires by 25 percent.

Copyright KTUL 2008.

Related Link:

http://www.policeone.com/writers/columnists/TravisYates/articles/1236004-Nitrogen-use-in-LE-fleets-Is-your-safety-riding-on-it/

NSU professor killed in weekend motorcycle crash (Dr. Bill Heck)

By World staff
5/5/2008

A Northeastern State University professor was killed over the weekend in a motorcycle crash, according to Tulsa police.

William Heck of Broken Arrow was pronounced dead at an area hospital following the crash the occurred at 3:20 p.m. Sunday.

Heck was driving east on the Broken Arrow Expressway near 129th East Avenue when another vehicle changed lanes and struck him. He then lost control of the motorcycle and crashed, according to police reports.

Police are continuing to investigate the crash.

By World staff

Copyright Tulsa World 2008. All rights reserved. Format differs from original publication.

Blog Editor's Note:

Dr. Bill Heck was instrumental, if not key, in the education of numerous law enforcement professionals in this part of the country. He was a fantastic educator and a generous friend. He will be sorely missed.

We would welcome your thoughts and memories of "Heck" in the comments section of this entry here on the TPD Blog.

Officer Will Dalsing
Tulsa Police Department

5/08/08

Memorial Services will be held Monday May 12, 2008 at 11:00 AM in the Fine Arts Auditorium on the campus of Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, OK. In lieu of flowers or plants, please make monetary contributions to the Dr. William Pipes Heck Memorial Scholarship Fund. Details are available through Hart's Funeral Home or the NSU Foundation, both are located in Tahlequah, OK. This fund is established in honor of Dr. Heck and is designed to carry-on his work in the field of Criminal Justice, in which he was so much loved and had a passion for.

Random crime is rare

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer
4/23/2008

Still, there are ways in which you can help protect yourself from such crimes.

Following a fatal home-invasion robbery early Tuesday, authorities said most home-invasion robberies in the Tulsa area are not random.

Victims are often targeted because of some sort of dispute or association, their investigations show.

In the Tuesday morning robbery, Frederick Anthony Wilson appears to have been targeted because the robbers had "some sort of knowledge" that he had money inside the home, Tulsa County deputies said.

Based on preliminary evidence, Sheriff's Office investigators don't believe that he was a random target, Capt. John Bowman said.

Investigators also believe his attack was unrelated to a home-invasion robbery in Tulsa this weekend, Bowman said.

Tulsa police are continuing to investigate the Sunday morning robbery at a home in the 2200 block of East 23rd Street, Officer Jason Willingham said.

In that unusual case, police think the bandits targeted a family whom they did not know after posing as tree trimmers to case their neighborhood.

No one was injured during that robbery.

Wilson, 25, was fatally shot during a robbery inside a home in the 4000 block of West 45th Place about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, Bowman said.

He was in the living room of the home with his girlfriend when two masked men suddenly appeared from the back of the house.

The couple were initially unsure how the men entered the residence, he said, but investigators said they might have entered through a back window or door.

The intruders tied the couple up and put bedding over their heads. Bowman said they demanded money, but when they received some, they demanded more.

"The woman said she heard a shot and then heard the men go through the house to the garage," Bowman said. "She stayed still until she did not hear any sounds and then managed to slide the bindings off her feet and went out the front door and ran to a neighbor's house."

The assailants were described as two black men of average build who were slightly less than 6 feet tall. One man was wearing a camouflage mask; the other was wearing a black mask.

Wilson had convictions for rape by instrumentation, attempted rape by instrumentation and helping a minor engage in sexual acts, records show.

His death was the second homicide in unincorporated Tulsa County this year.

Tulsa police records show that 30 residential robberies in which some sort of weapon was used have been reported in the Tulsa city limits during the first three months of the year.

Seventeen strong-armed residential robberies -- where force rather than a weapon was used -- have occurred during the same time period.

In 2007, 132 residential robberies involving a weapon were reported in Tulsa, and 99 strong-armed residential robberies were reported, the records show.

But the majority of residential robberies in the area result from some sort of dispute, or the robbers targeted the victims through some sort of association, authorities said.

"Home invasions can be a difficult crime to investigate simply because a lot of times the person who is the victim in the home invasion does want to say that they had some previous dealings with whoever may have robbed them," Willingham said.

Confronting the occupant of a home increases criminals' risk, as compared with breaking into an unoccupied home.

So it stands to reason that home-invasion robbers typically have some sort of personal dispute or motivation to risk targeting a home's occupants, police said.

Still, Willingham said it is important that people make it as difficult as possible for any sort of intruder to enter a home. Everyone can increase safety through home security, he said.

"Obviously, a home that is an easier target is more likely to get hit," Willingham said.

"Take all the necessary precautions, such as making sure your house is well-lit; lock your windows and doors; and try not to talk about valuables that you might have in your home."

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

To help

Anyone with information about the robberies is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS. Tulsa robbery detectives can also be reached by e-mail at robbery@ci.tulsa.ok.us.

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer

Governor signs bill to expand 'peeping Tom' law

By ANGEL RIGGS World Capitol Bureau
4/19/2008

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Gov. Brad Henry signed a bill Friday that expands the state's "peeping Tom" law to include the use of electronic equipment to capture images of private areas of unsuspecting people.

Tulsa Police Sgt. Gary Stansill said the action "sends a good, clear message to future perpetrators that this kind of behavior won't be tolerated. Whereas they may have gotten by with it in the past, that won't be the case in the future."

The law not only will help law enforcement authorities keep up with the times but also with the "ingenu ity that offenders come up with," Stansill said.

"We have to match that, and this law does that," he said.

House Bill 2606 was sponsored by Rep. Pam Peterson, R-Tulsa. It passed both chambers of the Legislature unanimously. The bill makes it a misdemeanor to use photographic, electronic or video equipment in a clandestine manner to view or capture an image of a person's private areas without the person's consent.

The law, which goes into effect Nov. 1, applies in both public and private places.

People convicted under the law would face as much as one year in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Peterson said, "It's a bill that has caught up with technology."

She said the law is patterned after the federal voyeurism act.

Tulsa has had several recent cases that would have been affected by the law.

A charge was dismissed last year against a man who was arrested for taking photographs of a 16-year-old girl at a Target store by situating a camera underneath her skirt.

The courts ruled that he did not violate the law because the statute limited violations to incidents that occurred in usually private areas, such as locker rooms, restrooms, tanning booths and homes.

A felony charge was dismissed Monday against a man who was accused of using his cell phone to try to take a picture under a woman's dress at a Sand Springs grocery store.

Angel Riggs (405) 528-2465
angel.riggs@tulsaworld.com

Copyright Tulsa World 2008. All rights reserved. Format differs from original publication.

Crime by the numbers

Police and residents fight neighborhood offenses by learning from what goes on in their ZIP codes.

It's no secret that violent crime has plagued Scotty Mays' neighborhood.

But he says the good news is that it's getting better, thanks to some concerned residents and businesses.

Mays has lived near Independence Street and Peoria Avenue in the Crutchfield neighborhood for the last 14 years.

The neighborhood falls within the 74106 ZIP code, an area that recent police statistics show has had the most incidents of violent crime in the city.

Police and crime-victim advocates say reducing the amount of crime in an area starts with recognizing that a crime problem exists there. The next step is doing something about it.

Last year the city began an improvement project in Crutchfield. A spate of homicides in the area last year further motivated residents and businesses to take action.

''Just a couple years ago, this neighborhood was lousy. But the business owners got together with a lot of the neighbors who were tired of it and took an active role in making changes,'' Mays said.

''It does not start out with every person in the neighborhood. It starts out with a few and spreads.''

Crime by ZIP code

The Tulsa World analyzed crimes reported to police from Jan. 1, 2007, through March 31, 2008, and ranked Tulsa's ZIP codes by violent and nonviolent crimes.

The nonviolent crime category includes larceny, burglary and auto theft. The violent crime category includes homicide, rape, robbery and assault.

Tulsa Police Officer Jason Willingham noted that when crime rates are examined within certain boundaries, it is important to consider the density and type of businesses and residences there.

For example, the ZIP code with the highest number of nonviolent crimes was 74133 -- a large area that includes Woodland Hills Mall and the dense retail district along 71st Street near Memorial Drive and Mingo Road.

The ZIP code with the second-highest number of nonviolent crimes was 74135, which includes the Tulsa Promenade mall and is roughly bounded by 31st and 61st Streets from Harvard Avenue to Sheridan Road.

Crimes such as larceny, which includes shoplifting, and auto theft can be expected to be higher in those retail areas, Willingham said.

''It is not unusual for criminals to go to an area where they have the most opportunity to commit crimes,'' he said. ''That does not necessarily mean that is where they live.''

The 74106 ZIP code -- where Mays lives -- is roughly bounded by Admiral Boulevard to the south, 46th Street North to the north and Elwood and Lewis avenues to the west and east.

Police Officer Fed Up With Repeat Offender

A Tulsa Police officer is fed up with a repeat offender who keeps getting arrested, getting out of prison early and committing new crimes.  The News On 6's crime reporter Lori Fullbright reports the officer has kept quiet for nine years, but says he must now speak out about this revolving door justice.

When you hear the story, it's so outrageous, you think, how could it be true?  But, it is and it makes you realize, if the system won't do the right thing for a police officer, what does that mean for the rest of us?

Officer Tim O'Keefe has had a busy career at Tulsa Police Department, but it all changed in 1999 when he had to fight a suspect, who was high on PCP, who stepped on and crushed Officer O'Keefe's neck.

"I've been in a lot of fights down here,  never been able not to finish a fight. Third time I tried to get up, that was it, like an electrical charge down my spinal column, nothing working, nothing functioning, I'm done," said Tulsa Police Officer Tim O'Keefe.

O'Keefe needed two major spinal surgeries, where they first shaved bones off his pelvis to replace his destroyed discs, then added titanium pins to his spine and voicebox.  He had to learn to walk again and spent much of the following four years on extended leave.
   

Right after the attack, the suspect, Marcus Taylor, was let out of jail and was arrested for drugs.

Five months after the attack, he got a five-year sentence for the attack, but was released just 90 days later and the revolving door began.

The same month he was released, Taylor was arrested on warants.

A month later, he was out, high on PCP, fighting with officers and was arrested for drugs.

Three months after that, he was sent back to prison and was supposed to stay there until 2007.  But, in 2004, he was released and arrested for drugs and guns and sent back to prison where he was supposed to stay until 2009.

But, in January  of 2007, he was released and arrested for assault.  Marcus Taylor stayed in prison less than a year and got released in December of 2007.

A month later, he was arrested on more warrants.  But, was out again last month, high on PCP and arrested for exposing himself at a Tulsa apartment complex.
       

O'Keefe has never once been notified when Taylor was released, as victims are supposed to be and has finally had enough.

"I kept quiet, thought it's part of the system, part of the game, what I signed up for, but to see this on and on, see him committing more crimes, put him in jail again and again and again. There's got to be a stop to it," said Tulsa Police Officer Tim O'Keefe.

Source: KOTV

Beware of Disappearing Ink Scam

Disappearing Ink Scam Arrives In Oklahoma

Tulsa police are investigating a recent rash of check frauds where the person writing the checks, used disappearing ink.  The News On 6's crime reporter Lori Fullbright reports one business is making sure customers use the store's pen to write a check.

The Wonder Bread thrift store last week has a sign that reads, "You must fill out your checks with our ink pens."

Below that, it says, no out of state checks or driver's licenses, which are also a part of the scam.  Wonder Bread declined a request from The News On 6 for an interview, but Tulsa Police say the store has been a victim of a customer using disappearing ink to fill out checks.

"The consumer will actually write a check, you'll look at it, everything looks good, but they've used invisible ink, which means a couple of hours later, that ink has disappeared off the check and the business is left with a blank check and the merchandise has walked out the door," said Rick Brinkley with the Tulsa Better Business Bureau.

You can find disappearing ink pens for sale all over the web.  One even gives some options; the ink can disappear in a few hours, a few days, even a week.  They say it's for protection when you write highly personal letters or top secret business letters.

The concept is the same as this disappearing ink purchased at a magic shop.  You squirt it and it looks like you've made a mess, but the truth is, once the ink is exposed to the air, a chemical reaction happens and the ink evaporates, much like water.

All that is fine for practical jokes, but it's much more serious when someone is using the ink to commit felony fraud, which is what's happening.

One give-away is the ink often has a red or pink tint to it.

The only real protection against it is to do what the Wonder Bread store is doing.  That is make people use pens the store provides.

"They shouldn't be offended by it.  They've gotta realize the business is doing what it can to protect itself and at the same time, protect us from prices going up," said Rick Brinkley with the Tulsa Better Business Bureau.

One fraud detective says if stores require you to use their pen, they should offer you a gel pen instead of a regular ball point pen.  That prevents a store employee from later washing the check and removing your ink and committing fraud against you.

Source: KOTV

Ausgezeichnet! German Police Share Tactics

German tactical officers train with BA, Tulsa police

BROKEN ARROW -- In sharing some of their respective tactics and knowledge this week, special operations police officers from Germany are establishing lasting ties with area police, officers said.

Members of the Broken Arrow and Tulsa police departments' special operations teams are participating in a five-day training course at Broken Arrow's Police and Fire Training Center.

They are joined by Norbert Tannert, a commander of the Dusseldorf, Germany, police special operations team, and Christoph Glossat, a member of the team.

Officials say the goal is to enable the Germans and the Oklahomans to benefit from each other's experiences in the field.

"When you compare the tactics between teams, there's always something you can fit into your work," Tannert said. "Everybody has experience the others don't have. We do this a lot in Germany. We have good connections to different teams."

Capt. Heath Arning, who oversees training and special operations for the Broken Arrow department, said the local officers are learning new skills from the Germans in defense against knife attacks, for example.

"Our guys have really had their eyes opened on how ill-prepared we were for certain (assault) styles like in-close knife attacks -- things we don't commonly deal with, but which we could," Arning said.

Broken Arrow Police Chief Todd Wuestewald met the Dusseldorf officers last year while he was in Germany to deliver a speech.

Wuestewald "wanted us to start talking," Arning said. "He gave me Norbert's e-mail, and we've been talking back and forth, and that's how we got this set up."

Seven members of Broken Arrow's special operations team will travel to Dusseldorf in September to participate in a special operations competition against teams from around the world, Arning said.

"We do a lot of (special operations) training here, but this is the first time we've brought in anyone from abroad," he said.

Glossat, who has been in his unit for eight years, said he is enjoying his time with the Oklahomans.

"It's always important to see what other units do, wherever they are," he said. "We can learn from each other." That includes learning about each other's cultures. Arning said, "I told them: 'You're in Oklahoma. Everyone owns a gun.' "

Germany has much stricter gun-control laws than the U.S. does, but Tannert said that doesn't mean that his unit doesn't face many guns. "The bad guys still have access to firearms," he said, "and usually the (special operations) team is called only when there's an armed assailant."

Tim Stanley 581-8385
tim.stanley@tulsaworld.com

Source: Tulsa World

Shooting Suspect Arrested in 'City of Brotherly Love'

Philly police nab Tulsa shooting suspect

Austin Jamal Duncan

By MATT BARNARD, World Staff Writer

A teenage homicide suspect is behind bars after being arrested nearly 1,300 miles away in Philadelphia, Pa.

Austin Jamal Duncan, 17, was arrested late Monday night in connection with the shooting death of another Tulsa man, Philadelphia homicide detective Michael Cahill said.

A group of U.S. Marshalls and local detectives arrested Duncan without incident as he arrived at a bus station in Philadelphia. The lawmen had been contacted by authorities in Tulsa and were expecting Duncan, who was traveling alone, Cahill said.

"It was a no frills kind of thing," he said. "We went out and snatched this boy."

Tulsa police issued a felony arrest warrant for Duncan on Monday after the weekend murder of Joshua Jordan, 22.

Jordan was outside the Park Plaza Apartments near 51st Street and Sheridan Road when he was shot multiple times, witnesses said. The gunman got into a blue or green Chevrolet Cavalier occupied by several people and left. The shooting was Tulsa's seventh homicide this year.

Duncan is being held without bond in Philadelphia as a fugitive and will have an extradition hearing in three to ten days, Cahill said. After the hearing he will be sent back to Oklahoma. Detectives aren't sure why Duncan fled to Philadelphia. It is unclear if he has family in the area, Cahill said.

Source: Tulsa World

Tulsa Police Promotes Two Leaders

The Tulsa Police Department proudly announces the promotion of two of its leaders.

Captain Steven Bayles was promoted to Major.

Sergeant Shawn King was promoted to Captain.

The promotion ceremony was held Monday, April 7, 2008, at 0800 hours at the Tulsa Police Training Division.

Burglary Suspects Arrested

Four men have been arrested after Tulsa Police find stolen equipment in their hotel room overnight.

It is believed the four suspects broke into a trailer at Lowrance Electronics.  The burglars stole a generator, some gas cans and other construction equipment.

Around 3:30 a.m., Tulsa Police were called to the America's Best Value Inn in the 1000 block of North Garnett, because of suspicious activity from some guests.

Police officers found the stolen items in the hotel room. 

The suspects are being questioned.

Source: KOTV

11 Indicted for Drug Trafficking

11 indicted on drug charges

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer
4/1/2008

They are accused of smuggling illegal substances into Tulsa and the Kansas City area from Mexico. Nine are in custody.

A federal grand jury indictment that was unsealed Monday in Tulsa charges 11 people with conspiracy to distribute large amounts of marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine from Mexico.

The alleged ringleaders, brothers Manuel and Mario Bonilla, also face charges of operating a continuing criminal enterprise in violation of the federal "drug kingpin" law, U.S. Attorney David O'Meilia said.

"This is an extremely large drug-trafficking organization smuggling marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine from Mexico across the border into El Paso (Texas) and then transporting the drugs to Tulsa and other places for distribution," said O'Meilia, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma.

The investigation, called Operation Icepack, spanned more than two years, he said.

Two of the defendants, Manuel Bonilla, 36, and Omar Cruz, 27, are believed to be in Mexico, their home country. The remaining nine defendants are in custody.

They are Mario Bonilla, 23, of Tulsa; Cecilia Lorena Bonilla, 20, of Tulsa; Francisca Bonilla, 63, of Mexico; Michelle Moreno, 27, of Tulsa; Holly King, 29, of Wann; Felix McVay, 51, of Haskell; Selene Soto, 31, of Odessa, Texas; Victor Poras, 36, of Kansas City, Mo.; and Jose Silos, 47, of Mexico.

The indictment alleges that the Bonilla family started smuggling drugs into the United States in about March 2001, primarily through the El Paso area. The drugs were brought into Tulsa and Kansas City, where the organization stored, manufactured and distributed them.

The defendants also are accused of smuggling guns into Mexico, using hidden compartments in vehicles traveling from the United States.

They are accused of using various communication methods, including cellular telephones and pagers, to carry out their operations and of using firearms to protect their drug shipments and cash profits.

The drug-kingpin statute re quires evidence that a defendant organized a drug-trafficking organization involving at least five people who engaged in a series of felonies and made a substantial profit.

Operation Icepack was led by the U.S. Attorney's Office's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. O'Meilia praised the work of agencies involved in the investigation, including the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation Divi sion, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Tulsa Police Department.

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold has been placed on Francisca Bonilla, who is in the Tulsa Jail. The other defendants are either in the United States legally or their status is not yet known, task force attorney Allen J. Litchfield said.

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

Source: Tulsa World

Improving Security Downtown: Security Officers, Tulsa Police Work Together

Downtown security boosted

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer
3/31/2008

Kanbar Properties, which manages 2.1 million square feet of downtown Tulsa real estate, has met with Tulsa police this year to find ways they can work together to increase safety downtown.

One of the first suggestions by police was to increase lighting around the company's properties, said Clint Baranowski, vice president of Kanbar.

So the company, owned by San Francisco inventor and philanthropist Maurice Kanbar, has installed high-intensity lighting in alleys and dark spots around its buildings.

Most of Kanbar's properties are between Fourth and Sixth streets and Cheyenne to Cincinnati avenues, Baranowski said.

So far, new lights have been installed from Fifth to Sixth streets between Boston Avenue and Main Street and between Sixth and Sev enth streets between Main and Boulder Avenue, he said.

"I don't think we are complete yet, but we are definitely in the process of putting in some high intensity lighting in those areas so that they are not so dark to keep people from hiding and that sort of thing," Baranowski said.

Kanbar plans to install lighting around all of its properties.

Police and Kanbar have also discussed ways the private security officers can assist police. The security officers, who are contract workers from The Wackenhut Corporation, are posted inside their buildings, but frequently patrol outside the buildings to ensure they are secure.

"We do make some rounds checking doors, and if we see something suspicious we do report it to the Tulsa Police Department whether it is happening at our properties or whether it happens to be something on the streets," Baranowski said.

Uniform Division North Major Paul Williams said the department welcomes having security workers acting as "extra eyes and ears" downtown.

Baranowski said the company also has surveillance cameras on its buildings, and they will share video with police when needed.

The company has recently doubled its number of security officers, Baranowski said.

"We have always had a security presence at some of our properties, but what we heard our tenants asking for is just an increased presence and emphasis on that security," Baranowski said.

The company increased from about 10 security officers to about 20 by the end of January, Baranowski said. In addition to the contract workers from Wackenhut, Kanbar also has a few employees who work with the officers in a supervisory capacity.

Kanbar has a security presence on its properties 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Williams said the department looks forward to seeing what the collaboration brings. He said it is not unusual for the department to meet with businesses or other agencies to determine how they can work together.

In the fall, police met with representatives of Blue Cross Blue Shield to determine how its security guards could work with officers. Police also suggested measures to increase security at those buildings.

The relationship between Kanbar and the police, in coordination with Downtown Tulsa Unlimited, is still in its beginning stages, Williams and Baranowski said.

"We are still trying to get our feet on the ground. We are trying to make it work, and overall I think it will make a difference," Baranowski said.

Kanbar has also allowed Tulsa Fire Department and Tulsa police to use its buildings for training.

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

Source: Tulsa World

Bomb Sqaud Gets 'Realistic' Training Grounds

Tulsa Bomb Squad gets good training location
Reported by: Beth Burnett

Preparing for anything and hoping for the best.  The Tulsa Police Department Bomb Squad says it can't get too much practice.

Tulsa Police officials say training for bombs is serious business and serious technology. One robot has 4 cameras with eyes watching everything that's going on.

The bomb squad uses light explosives to render safe IED's.  Those are improvised explosive devices, otherwise known as home made bombs.

Getting to that point is a long cautious process.

"We have a robot that we can utilize that we can keep from having to send an actual technician down onto an explosive device," Sgt. Jacob Thompson said.

The robot is controlled from a bomb squad RV and operated by many switches and cameras that help operators focus on suspicious devices.

The training exercise is close to a real situation. 10 bomb techs suit up in $50,000 100 pound bomb suits in the ideal environment.

"This apartment building is obviously the same type of apartments and structures that we are going to on real live calls,"  Thompson Said.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation acquired the apartments for the I-44 widening expansion project.  It cleared asbestos inspection and is set for demolition next week.

"Since we are stewards of the roadways we do have to rely on them (police) a lot for help, they rely on us as well so it's always good to have this friendship continuing,"  Said ODOT's Kenna Mitchell.

A friendly gesture for a life saving cause.  Tulsa bomb techs answer an average of 100 calls a year.

"Anytime at all that you feel like something is suspicious give us a call, we would rather run on a hundred calls that turn out to be nothing than not get called and someone end up getting hurt,"  Thompson Said.

The Tulsa Police Department Bomb Squad works as needed but they train twice a month.

The Tulsa Police Bomb Squad has two robots that cost around $175,000 each.

Source: KJRH

Burglary Suspect Arrested

Tulsa Police were called about a man under a car at the Golden Auto Sales lot at 11th and Joplin. Police officers say they've had a real problem with people stealing parts from cars, particularly catalytic converters. Tulsa Police's Burglary Task Force arrests a man they believe has been stealing parts from cars. 

It all started after midnight, when Tulsa Police were called about a man under a car at the Golden Auto Sales lot at 11th and Joplin. 

Tulsa Police had a good description of the suspect vehicle which was pulled over more than an hour later at 4th and Yale.  The unidentified driver was taken into custody.  Police officers found tools in the back seat, but no car parts. 

The Burglary Task Force was recently formed to put more police manpower to fight a growing burglary problem.

Man Arrested After Shooting

By Staff Reports
3/27/2008  10:29 AM

A Tulsa man was arrested early Thursday after a shooting that sent a man to the hospital.

The shooting at the Cimarron Apartments, 13201 E 31st St., occurred about 1:30 a.m., according to an arrest report. A man and a woman were inside an apartment when someone outside fired into the unit several times, striking the man in the left foot. He was taken to Southcrest Medical Center, where he was treated and released.

Officers began to look for the woman’s ex-boyfriend after the victims told police he had been threatening them earlier in the evening. They located the suspect, Louis Saenz Hernandez, in the front yard of a house in the 1200 block of North Yale Avenue, along with a weapon that matched the caliber and brand of shell casings from the shooting, according to the arrest report.

The occupants of the house where Hernandez was found told police that earlier in the evening he came into the home uninvited, pointed a gun and began threatening them. He was looking for the man and woman later found at the apartment complex.

Hernandez, 37, was arrested on complaints of first-degree burglary, pointing a deadly weapon and two counts of possession of a firearm and shooting with the intent to kill, all after a felony conviction. He was booked into the Tulsa County Jail about 7:30 a.m., jail records show. His bond was set for $430,000.

Hernandez was previously convicted in Tulsa County on drug charges and resisting an officer.

Source: Tulsa World

Police Continue Cori Baker Investigation

Remains are missing girl's

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer
3/25/2008

Police seek more clues about teenager's death

The state Medical Examiner's Office in Tulsa confirmed Monday that remains found in a wooded, rocky area of Creek County belong to a missing 13-year-old Tulsa girl. Cori Baker has been presumed dead since she disappeared Nov. 9. Her sister's 19-year-old boyfriend, Marquis Bullock, has been charged with killing the girl after picking her up from school.

A skull and other remains were found Friday evening in the wooded terrain near the playing fields at Paintball Adventure Games Inc. The business is north of the Creek Turnpike near South 49th West Avenue. Police are investigating reports that Bullock had been to the paintball facility shortly before Cori's death.

Dental records were used to confirm that the remains were Cori's, Medical Examiner's Office spokesman Randy Saffell said. Cori's family members -- who have searched extensively for the girl -- were notified Monday that the remains were Cori's, Saffell said.

They did not return calls Monday. Tulsa police detectives, Creek County deputies and Medical Examiner's Office investigators searched for additional remains Monday.

Creek County Sheriff's Capt. Mike O'Keefe said more remains as well as clothing were found during the search. The remains were scattered over a wide area. Details about the clothing were not released, and investigators were trying to determine whether it was related to the case.

Large rocks jut from the hilly, wooded terrain, making the search difficult, Tulsa Police Sgt. Mike Huff said. O'Keefe said the search would resume Tuesday morning with about 80 to 100 law enforcement officers and others with search-and-rescue training. Authorities said it likely will be some time before Cori's cause of death can be determined.

Police say Bullock gave them conflicting statements, including saying that he and Cori went to the west bank of the Arkansas River, where Cori fell into the river and "disappeared under the water," a detective testified at Bullock's preliminary hearing last week.

Police have searched west of the Arkansas River for Cori several times. Now that she has been found, two recently developed leads remain "very relevant," Huff said.

Witnesses have told police that they saw Bullock fighting with Cori in his car near 71st Street and Riverside Parkway and later driving recklessly alone on eastbound Interstate 44 near Elwood Avenue.

Last week, before the remains were found, a judge found that sufficient evidence existed to hold Bullock for trial on a first-degree murder charge. His arraignment was scheduled for Monday, but it has been postponed a week.

Meanwhile, Huff said the investigation is continuing. "This has been one of the most unusual cases that we have worked on," he said, "and the investigation is far from over."

Source: Tulsa World

Tulsa Police Search for Remains

Area where bones found due search

By DEON HAMPTON World Staff Writer
3/24/2008

SAPULPA -- Creek County sheriff's deputies and Tulsa police will start a search Monday morning for additional portions of a body following the discovery of human remains Friday in Creek County, authorities said Sunday.

Creek County Sheriff's Capt. John Cooper said the search by about 10 deputies, Tulsa officers and search dogs would begin at 8 a.m.

Authorities said they would set up a command post.

Creek County deputies were called at 5:15 p.m. Friday to a wooded area behind Paintball Adventure Games Inc., where human remains had been found, authorities said.

The business is north of the Creek Turnpike near South 49th West Avenue.

Cooper said patrons found a jawbone and a piece of vertebrae after they went out of bounds during a game.

Some have speculated that the remains are of Cori Baker, 13, who has been missing since Nov. 9, when her older sister's boyfriend, Marquis Bullock, picked her up from Union Alternative School, 5959 S. 129th East Ave.

Cooper, however, said, "There haven't been any indications that lead us to believe that it is her."

Phone calls placed to Daniel Baker, Cori's father, were not immediately returned Sunday.
Creek County deputies were guarding the site Sunday, preventing visitors from entering the business.

Authorities said the state Medical Examiner's Office determined Saturday that the remains were human.

The remains belong to someone younger than 25, but the person's sex had not been determined, authorities said.

A Tulsa County judge ruled March 17 that Bullock must face trial on a charge of first-degree murder in Cori's disappearance.

Bullock, who turned 19 in January, was arrested late Nov. 12. He was booked on Nov. 13 into the Tulsa Jail, where he is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

Deon Hampton 581-8413
deon.hampton@tulsaworld.com

Source: Tulsa World

Burglary Task Force Arrests 36, Serves 67 Warrants

Burglary task force touts its early success

By DAVID SCHULTE World Staff Writer
3/20/2008

A new burglary task force is taking guns off the streets and putting criminals in jail, the Tulsa Police Department announced Wednesday. The task force is an outgrowth of the department's Safe City Initiative, which was launched last fall to target repeat offenders and crime hot spots.

Police began the task force March 9 after noting an increase in burglaries in recent years, Police Chief Ron Palmer said at a press conference.

He noted that roughly 600 more burglaries were committed in Tulsa in 2007 than during the year before. Statistics previously released by the Police Department show that 6,843 burglaries were committed in 2007 -- a 10 percent increase from 2006.

Palmer said both residential and commercial burglaries have spiked. The task force consists of 24 officers from each of the Police Department's three uniform divisions.

Already, task force officers have made 36 arrests and seized 11 guns, according to information provided by the department. Eleven seized guns in less than two weeks is a high number for the department, Deputy Chief Dennis Larsen said.

Deputy Chief Mark McCrory noted that the number of arrests already is an indication that the task force is an effective crime-prevention tool.

"We want to scoop people (burglars) off the street as fast as we can," he said. "Our hope is to make their life miserable."

Police officials said the majority of daytime burglaries were committed at homes.A large number of home burglaries were committed by students who were truant from school, and police are working with school resource officers to prevent the crimes, Palmer said. Most nighttime burglaries were committed in commercial areas, police said.

Palmer credited the public for calling the Police Department and 911 when they suspect that a crime is in progress. He encouraged residents to continue to do so. Larsen said that "one of the main purposes of the task force was to use our resources to reduce burglaries and to improve the quality of life in Tulsa."

The department plans to evaluate the task force's effectiveness as a burglary-prevention measure every 30 days, he added.

David Schulte 581-8367
david.schulte@tulsaworld.com

Since the burglary task force’s inception March 9:

36 arrests made
11 guns seized
67 warrants served

Source: Tulsa World

Jimmy Hendrix Wanted for Homicide

Police searching for man charged in fatal shooting

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer
3/19/2008

Police are searching for a man who was charged Tuesday with a fatal shooting last week at an apartment complex. Jimmy Hendrix, 28, was charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Jerrod Young, 26, court records show.

Hendrix was last seen in the Okmulgee area in an older-model red sports car. The car was loaded with blue plastic storage bins, and its back hatch was tied down. Hendrix is believed to be with Derek Long, 20, who is being sought as a "person of interest" in the case, Officer Jason Willingham said.

Young was shot about 11:10 p.m. March 11 at the Brandy wine Apartments, 4019 S. 130th East Ave. Young's girlfriend told police that he had gone outside with three men and a woman who were at the apartment. She then heard at least one shot.

Young was shot in the leg and abdomen and was pronounced dead at St. Francis Hospital about 12:20 a.m. March 12. Police said the four people apparently were acquaintances of Young's, but a motive has not been released.

Detectives said last week that they were searching for two people -- Jeff Lee Smith and Ashley Kauffman
-- who were believed to have been at the apartment at the time of the shooting.

Smith and Kauffman surrendered and have been interviewed in connection with the shooting, Willingham said. Smith was arrested on an unrelated warrant, and Kauffman was released pending further investigation, he said.

Hendrix is described as American Indian, 5 feet 4 inches tall and 130 pounds, according to court records. Police released photographs of both men, but no description was provided for Long.

Anyone with information about Hendrix's or Long's whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS.

Callers can be anonymous, and the Crime Commission offers rewards for information that leads to arrests.

Source: Tulsa World

Free Booster Seat Giveaway & Car Seat Check-Up

The Tulsa Police Department, Tulsa Black Officers Coalition Inc., and SAFE KIDS Worldwide of Tulsa will conduct the 8th annual Car Seat Check Up and Booster Seat Giveaway on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at Lacy Park Community Center, 2134 North Madison Place. This Child Passenger Safety event is scheduled from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 Noon.

The Tulsa Black Officers Coalition will also hold their annual Easter Egg Hunt at 12:00 Noon following the check up.

We have a limited number of FREE Booster Seats to give to qualified families with children ages 4-8. Families needing a Booster Seat must bring their car and the children must be present to be fitted into the Booster Seats.

Results from previous car seat safety checks have shown that at least four out of five child safety seats are not installed correctly.

Families are encouraged to bring their children for the Car Seat Check Up and the Easter Egg Hunt. Children will receive refreshments, prizes, and a visit with Vince & Larry, the crash test dummies and a guest appearance from the Easter Bunny.

Driver Crashes Into Police Car

Driver Hits Police Car Responding To Call

Four people were taken to the hospital after their car hit a Tulsa Police Officer's car as he responded to a call. The accident happened just after midnight on Tuesday.

The officer was headed south on 129th East Avenue, with his emergency lights on, when an 18-year-old driver heading west on 31st, hit the patrol car.

All four people in the teenager's car had to be taken to the hospital. The officer was not hurt.

Officers say the 18-year-old driver only had a learner's permit.
© Copyright 2000-2007, WorldNow and KOTV.

Source: NewsOn6

Murder Suspect Faces Trial

Marquis Bullock Ordered To Trial

The prime suspect in the disappearance of a 13-year-old Union student will go to trial.  A judge ruled on Monday that there is enough evidence to try Marquis Bullock for the murder of Cori Baker.  The News On 6's Ashli Sims reports the defense tried to have testimony excluded and even the murder charge itself thrown out altogether.  But, a judge ruled 18-year-old Marquis Bullock will go to trial.

Cori Baker's family and friends were very visible in the Tulsa County Courthouse.  They were all wearing pink and gray T-shirts with the message:  "Justice for Cori."

"We're here representing Cori because she can't be. She's the one that should have been in there testifying," said Danny Baker, Cori's father.

Cori Baker disappeared last November.  Her sister's boyfriend Marquis Bullock is accused of killing the 13 year old.

Both of Cori's sisters, including the one Bullock shares a child with, took the stand against him.  The middle Baker girl testified that Bullock drilled a peep hole into her room and spied on her.  Courtney Baker, the oldest sister and Bullock's girlfriend, says he told her to lie to the police for him.

"Bringing back the memories. It will haunt me for life. It will never go away," said Courtney Baker.

A Tulsa Police detective told the judge at first Bullock adamantly denied picking Cori up from Union Alternative School.  The detective testified Bullock told him "I would never look at Cori that way. She is my girlfriend's sister and she's only 13."

Over four days, the detective says Bullock gave them four different versions of what happened the day Cori disappeared.  He says in one version, Bullock claimed he and Cori were at the Arkansas River horsing around and Cori fell in and drowned.

After about five hours of testimony and a dozen witnesses, the judge decided there was enough evidence for Bullock to face trial for first degree murder.

"I definitely feel relieved.  I've been holding my breath all day. Because I was a witness, I wasn't in there for any of this. So, we didn't know what was going on or what was being said. But, I'm definitely relieved that he's going to stay in custody," said Danny Baker, Cori's father.

Bullock's attorney tried to argue that without a body and a cause of death, there's no murder.  But, the judge denied that argument.  The defense also claimed Bullock's statements to police were coerced.  That was also overruled, but those arguments are sure to come up again during trial.

© Copyright 2000-2007, WorldNow and KOTV. All Rights Reserved.

Source: NewsOn6

Brothers Arrested After School Burglary

Two Brothers Break Into School

Two brothers were arrested on Monday after breaking into a school. It happened about 2:30 a.m. at Mitchell School located in the 700 block of N 73rd E Ave. Officers were responding to an alarm. Upon arrival they saw two young males running from the scene.

Some electronic equipment was recovered off of the school property. About a block away, officers arrested a 15-year-old male and an 18-year-old male.

All the property has been recovered. Officers say the brothers broke into a mobile classroom through the window.

© Copyright 2000-2007, WorldNow and KOTV. All Rights Reserved.

Source: NewsOn6

TPD Welcomes T-Town Trolleys

Blake Promotions LLC began operating trolleys that loop to nightspots in downtown Tulsa, Brookside, and the 18th & Boston areas.  The "T-Town Trolley" will run Thursday through Saturday nights.  The trolley rides are free to nightspot patrons.

Tulsa Police Officer Jason Willingham said that the department "welcomes the trolleys," especially as a way to help reduce drinking and driving, and avoid tragedy.  "Anything that can reduce the number of drunk drivers on the streets is a good idea," Willingham said.

However, Officer Willingham offered a good reminder. "People still need to drink responsibly.  If they drink too much and act in a way they don't normally act, they could end up in a bad situation and face charges for public intoxication."

It seems like a great idea to hop on a trolley and bar hop around Tulsa, but trolley/bar hoppers are reminded to call a taxi at the end of the night if they aren't sober enough to drive.

The free trolleys can help keep people safe while having a good time and will hopefully encourage more people to visit the downtown, Brookside, and 18th & Boston areas.

Ex-TPD Officer Pleads Guilty

Ex-TPD officer pleads guilty to stealing and selling police guns.

By DAVID HARPER World Staff Writer
3/14/2008

A former Tulsa police officer pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing guns and ammunition from the department and selling them on the Internet.

Buddy Visser, 47, entered the plea to the charges of possession and sale of stolen firearms and mail fraud, which were filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office March 5.

He said his criminal conduct involved between eight and 24 firearms.

U.S. District Judge Terence Kern will sentence Visser -- who is free on bond -- on June 10. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Raley estimated that federal guidelines will suggest a prison sentence from two years to three years, five months.

Raley told the court that Visser "deprived the taxpayers and the city of Tulsa of the honest services he had taken an oath to maintain" when he committed the crimes during the first 11 months of 2007.

Visser resigned from the force March 6 after a 17-year career.

Chief Ron Palmer said that same day that "the resignation was accepted with no regret."

During Thursday's plea hearing before U.S. Magistrate Paul Cleary, Visser did not try to justify his crimes, but he told the court that he has been treated for manic- depression and post-traumatic stress disorder and is taking medication.

Visser admitted in his plea agreement that from January 2007 through late November he stole weapons and ammunition from the Tulsa Police Department's firing range, where he was an instructor. 

Visser said he asked for prices so low that purchasers typically would buy quickly.

Visser had been suspended in December after the Tulsa Police Department and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives began investigating theft allegations.

His plea agreement indicates that Visser will be expected to pay restitution to the city for any unrecovered firearms and to the purchasers of guns that are located.

Raley said he does not an ticipate that anyone else will be charged with stealing guns from the Police Department and selling them. However, he would not comment about whether any further inquiries related to the Visser investigation are under way.

Palmer has said the department is now considering adding cameras and new auditing measures to ensure the security of weapons at the range.

David Harper 581-8359
david.harper@tulsaworld.com

Police Search River for Cori Baker

Officials search river anew for missing girl Cori Baker

By CLIFTON ADCOCK World Staff Writer
3/14/2008

Authorities took advantage of low water levels in the Arkansas River on Thursday to search for a Tulsa teenager who has been missing since November.

Police officers, sheriff's deputies and firefighters searched in the riverbed and areas near the river between the 4500 block and 6000 block of Riverside Drive, hoping to find the body of Cori Baker or clues about her disappearance.

Cori, 13, has been missing since Nov. 9, when police say her older sister's boyfriend, Marquis Bullock, picked her up from Union Alternative School. Bullock was arrested and has been charged with Cori's murder.

Law enforcement officers, firefighters, relatives, volunteers and a self-proclaimed psychic have all searched ex tensively for Cori but have turned up very little. Searchers have scoured the river for clues before, but the low water levels Thursday provided another opportunity to search. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had shut off the water upstream for repairs at the Keystone Dam.

About 50 law enforcement officers and firefighters searched between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. in the riverbed, the bank and nearby hills and wooded areas, said Tulsa Police Officer Jason Willingham.

They found some clothing, but it doesn't appear to match what Cori was wearing the day she disappeared, he said.

Searchers also found bones in the area, but the Medical Examiner's Office determined that they were deer bones, Willingham said.

Barring a tip or new evidence, police won't continue to search the area Friday, he said. "We feel we've adequately searched this section of the river," Willingham said, adding that police are hopeful that more tips will come in.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS.

St. Patrick’s Day DUI Enforcement

Saint Patrick’s Day is traditionally a holiday with a focus on drinking green beer. The drinking part of this holiday frequently contributes to an increase in DUI related traffic crashes and arrests. Law enforcement officers recognize this recurring problem and are dedicated to preventing alcohol related traffic collisions.

Last year, during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, the Tulsa Police Department made 23 DUI related arrests during the three day weekend surrounding March 17th.

This year the Tulsa Police Department will be stepping up patrols and conducting increased Saturation Patrols and Directed Patrols around those areas that are frequented by party goers. This is to help reduce traffic collisions and arrest impaired drivers that threaten other drivers and their passengers.

Thanks to a DUI Enforcement Grant from the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office (OSHO), the Tulsa Police Department and other agencies will be able to use overtime to provide these additional officers to identify and remove intoxicated drivers from the roadways.

Man Arrested for Shooting Neighbor

Man in serious condition after shooting; Neighbor arrested

By Staff Reports

A feud between neighbors escalated early Wednesday, ending with one man shot in the abdomen and another man in the Tulsa Jail. Police were dispatched to investigate a report of shots fired at a house in the 7800 block of East King Street about 12:40 a.m., Officer Jason Willingham said.

When they arrived they found a man lying in the front yard. EMSA ambulance medics transported the 33-year-old man to St. John Medical Center in serious condition.

Willingham said that reports indicate that the victim had been feuding with man who lives nearby for more than a week.

Police arrested Elijah Flanagan, 55, on complaints of shooting with intent to kill and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, jail records show.

Copyright Tulsa World 2008. All rights reserved. Format differs from original publication.

Man Shot, Killed at Apartment Complex

Man shot, killed at Tulsa apartment complex

By KELLY HINES World Staff Writer
3/12/2008  6:32 AM
Last Modified: 3/12/2008  6:55 AM

Police are investigating a shooting at a Tulsa apartment complex late Tuesday that left one man dead.

Officers responded to a shots-fired call just after 11 p.m. at the Brandywine Apartments, 4019 S. 130th E. Ave., to find a man with two gunshot wounds lying on the sidewalk outside his apartment, Cpl. Randy Solomon of Tulsa Police said.

The victim, a 26-year-old white man, had been shot in the lower leg and abdomen. He was taken to the hospital, where he died during surgery, Solomon said. His name has not been released.

The man's girlfriend told police that she woke up to hear several people in the couple's living room. She told them to leave the apartment, and the group, including her boyfriend, went outside. A woman came back inside the apartment a few minutes later, and the two women were involved in an argument when they heard shots fired.

A man carrying a gun came back inside and told the other woman the group needed to leave. The three men and one woman left in a white 1990s Ford Crown Victoria or Chevy Caprice in an unknown direction of travel.

The man thought to be the shooter was described as a white man in his mid-20s, wearing a red baseball cap and jeans. Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS.

The homicide is Tulsa's fourth this year and the second shooting at the Brandywine Apartments in the past week. Last Tuesday, a man was shot in the parking lot in what appeared to be an armed robbery attempt.

He and another man were working on a car when a gunman walked up and told them not to move. The gunman then shot one of the men in the face and ran away.
By KELLY HINES World Staff Writer

Again, if you have any information regarding the shooting, please call Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS.

Killer Talks About His Victim

A Killer's Words About His Victim

A killer's confession is released after his sentencing. Investigators released a DVD that shows Kevin Underwood confessing to the murder of 10-year-old Jamie Rose Bolin.

Underwood says Jamie became his victim because she was trusting and easy to lure into his apartment. He says he didn't care if his victim was a boy or girl, but chose a child because they would put up less of a fight and be easier to get rid of afterwards.

Editorial
We regret this unfortunate reminder about telling your child to "never talk to strangers."  Of course, there's more to it than that, and neighborhood crime and other community groups can also help.

If you would like more information, or to have Tulsa Police officers visit your school or neighborhood group, don't hesitate to contact us.

The Tulsa Police Department offers several educational programs.

Also consider these child-safety tips:

• The most important key to child safety is effective communication with your child.

• We maybe sending a confusing message to our children by teaching them Stranger Danger. Children may not understand the term STRANGER.
  
  
• Most children will describe a stranger as someone who is ugly or mean. They don't perceive "nice-looking" or friendly people as strangers.
   
• Experience has shown us that most children are actually taken by someone they are familiar  with. If someone talks to a child or is even around them once, that person loses their stranger status.

• A clear, calm, and reassuring message about situations and actions to lookout for is easier for a child to understand than a particular profile or image of a stranger.
  
  
• Speak openly with about safety issues with your child.  Children will be less likely to come to you if the issue is enshrouded in secrecy.
  
  
• Children can be raised to be polite and friendly, but they need to know that it is okay to say "NO!" even to an adult.
  
  
• Parents and guardians should explain to children that the child’s personal safety is more important than being polite.
  
  
• Kids need to be empowered with positive messages and safety skills that will build their self-esteem and self-confidence while helping to keep them safe.

• If your child does share a situation with you, strive to remain calm, non-critical, and non-judgmental.

• Call police immediately if your child has been a victim.

Read more about child safety tips

Source:

http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=8000059

Copyright 2000-2007, WorldNow and KOTV. All Rights Reserved.

Hearing for Cori Baker Suspect

The preliminary hearing of Marquis Bullock, regarding the first degree murder of Cori Baker, is scheduled for March 17, 2008 at 0900 hours (9 AM) at the Tulsa County District Court, 500 South Denver Avenue, Tulsa.

As previously reported, Bullock is the suspect in the homicide of 13-year-old Cori Baker.  Bullock was the boyfriend of Cori's older sister. Bullock reportedly picked up Cori from Union Alternative School, 5656 S. 129th East Ave., about 2:10 p.m. on November 9, 2007.

Also reported, a man who read a newspaper article recently notified Tulsa police that he had seen Cori with Bullock about 4:20 p.m. on the day she disappeared. The man told police that he saw the two at the intersection of 71st Street and Riverside Parkway in the red car that Bullock was driving. They were scuffling, and it caused Bullock to run a red light and nearly collide with the man's vehicle.  The witness said he last saw the red car going north on Riverside near 68th Street. He positively identified Bullock and Cori.

If you have any information about the case, please contact Crime Stoppers @ 596-COPS.

Public information about the Marquis Bullock case is available:
http://www.oscn.net/applications/ocisweb/GetCaseInformation.asp?submitted=true&viewtype=caseGeneral&casemasterID=2052972&db=Tulsa

Related Stories:
http://tpdblog.typepad.com/tpdblog/2008/02/latest-developm.html

http://tpdblog.typepad.com/tpdblog/2008/02/lead-developed.html

Gang Unit Chases, Arrests Man with Gun

Gang Unit Arrests Man with Gun

All four people in the car were being questioned by the Tulsa Police gang unit. Four people are taken in for questioning after an overnight traffic stop.

Tulsa Police officers were called out around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday to investigate a suspicious car in a neighborhood near Pine and Sheridan. Police stopped the vehicle and four young males were in it.

Police say one passenger ran off with a gun and tried to get rid of it. The suspect was caught and the gun recovered. He was arrested.

A juvenile in the car was also taken into custody. All four people in the car were being questioned by the Tulsa Police gang unit.

Copyright 2000-2007, WorldNow and KOTV. All Rights Reserved. Formatting different from original.

Source:
http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=7996520&nav=menu682_2

Officer Ron Jordan Resigns

Tulsa Police Officer Ron Jordan submitted his letter of resignation today to Chief of Police Palmer. 

Officer Jordan was involved in an accident on September 3, 2007, while off duty and driving a Tulsa Police Department patrol unit. The accident occurred in Glenpool, Oklahoma.

On September 4, 2007, The Tulsa Police Department’s Office of Integrity and Compliance initiated an investigation into the actions of Officer Jordan.  The investigation determined that Officer Jordan had violated the following Department Rules & Regulations:

Rule #2 - Duty to know and obey department rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Rule #3 - Duty to know, enforce and obey laws and ordinances.

Rule #8 - Conduct unbecoming an officer or police employee.

Rule #11 - Use of Department vehicles.

Officer Jordan was schedule for a pre-termination hearing on March 10, 2008. Jordan submitted his letter of resignation prior to that hearing.  Officer Jordan is not eligible for rehire.

Police Officer Involved In Overnight Accident

Tulsa Police say the officer missed a curve by the Adult Detention Center in the 2400 block of West Charles Page Blvd. The accident happened around 2:30 a.m. Monday as the Tulsa Police officer was responding to a 911 call.

Police say the patrol car was totaled, but the officer is going to be okay. A Tulsa police officer is shaken-up after a traffic accident overnight.  It happened around 2:30 a.m. Monday as the police officer was responding to a 911 call. Tulsa Police say they got a call that two men were fighting in the street and were told one may have a gun. 

Several police officers were rushing to the scene, including one officer which crashed his vehicle in the 2400 block of West Charles Page Blvd.  Police say the officer missed a curve by the Adult Detention Center.  The officer's vehicle went through a fence and then clipped a car.  The vehicle then hit a pickup truck, which forced the pickup into several nearby vehicles. 

Police say the patrol car was totaled, but the officer is going to be okay. Meanwhile, at the scene of the incident officers were responding to, Tulsa Police were not able to find a gun, but arrested both men.

Man Shot Over $50

Tulsa Police are looking for a suspect who shot another man Sunday evening. It happened at a home in the 3100 block of East 51st Street North. Officers say they've talked with the victim and witnesses in the area.

Police say two men apparently had a dispute over $50.  The suspect pulled a gun and fired several shots, striking the victim in the lower chest.  The 30-year-old victim was taken to a nearby convenience store, where emergency personnel were called.  The victim was transported to a Tulsa hospital and is listed in serious condition.

Police say the suspect fled the shooting scene in a vehicle described as either a Cadillac or Lincoln Continental.  The suspect was described as a male, 18 years of age,  5'09" and 130lbs.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS.

Officers Lauded for Service, Bravery

By CLIFTON ADCOCK World Staff Writer
3/8/2008

The Tulsa Police Department and the Crime Commission bestow the Tulsa's Heroes 2007 Awards. More than 90 officers were honored by the Tulsa Police Department and the Crime Commission at the Tulsa's Heroes 2007 Awards ceremony Friday night.

Awards included the Department Commendation Award for outstanding acts of achievement that bring credit to the city or department; the Lifesaving Award for sustaining or saving a life; the Chief's Award for outstanding accomplishment that resulted in improved administration, operations or savings in manpower or operational costs; the Pur ple Heart for TPD officers killed or injured in the line of duty; and the Medal of Valor for an act of outstanding bravery or heroism.

Officer Leland Ashley, spokesman for the department and a recipient of the 2007 Chief's Award, said, "It's an opportunity for the Police Department to honor our own. "All of these officers would be glad to do the job without getting awards," he said, but "I think it's great the department shows appreciation for the jobs they are doing day to day."

Each award recipient has a unique story, and unique circumstances surround each award.

One Purple Heart Award recipient, Officer Scott Osborn, had stopped a suspected drunken driver in the 3300 block of South 101st East Avenue on Nov. 12, 2006. As Osborn approached the vehicle, the driver, Everardo Valencia, was waiting to ambush him with a pistol, police said.

When Osborn was just behind the car's door, the driver held the pistol across his body and shot six times toward Osborn, striking him once in the chest, police said.

A protective plate that the officer wore with his bullet-proof vest stopped the bullet, but the impact injured him, police said. A second bullet hit his jacket, taking the teeth off its zipper. The driver fled but was captured a short distance away, police said. Valencia was sentenced in January to life in prison for the shooting.

Another Purple Heart Award recipient, Officer Wyatt Beaty, and another officer were on foot patrol Dec. 14, 2006, in the area of 2400 E. Fifth Place, an area police say has frequent drug activity and crime. A foot pursuit began when they encountered someone who ran from them, police said. Beaty was able to catch the fleeing man, who spun and hit the officer in the face. Beaty fell headfirst onto a concrete sidewalk and sustained a 4-inch cut to the top of his head. Despite the injury, Beaty was able to get up and help the other officer subdue the man.

On July 10, Officer Richard Davis, a Purple Heart Award recipient, and Officer Carolyn Ash, the Medal of Valor Award recipient, responded to a call of shots being fired in the 1400 block of East First Street. The two officers found a man in the area, but he tried to ride away on a motorcycle and was stopped by Ash, police said. The man then tried to walk away on foot, but both officers grabbed him, and a fight ensued.

Davis was knocked unconscious when he was hit by a roundhouse punch from the man, and Ash was thrown to the ground, police said. She was getting up when the man said he would kill her and then kneed her in the face and hit her several times. He fled after she was able to unsnap her gun from its holster, police said. Ash was later able to provide information that led to the man's capture, police said. Capt. Eric Dalgleish wrote in his nomination of Ash for the award, "I believe Officer Ash showed bravery in the face of danger and believe her actions may have saved her and Officer Davis' lives."

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

Fortune Cookies Help Nab Suspect

Fortune Cookies Help Cops Nab Suspect
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Two fortune cookies helped Tulsa police make an arrest after a pair of break-ins Chinese restaurants. Terrence Middleton, 30, was booked Friday on charges of second-degree burglary and attempted second-degree burglary after police responded to a burglar alarm to find him with more than $20 in coins and the cookies in his pockets, Officer Leland Ashley said.

Middleton was being held on $15,000 bond.

Ashley said police were able to link Middleton to the Asian Express that was robbed because he had possession of the same type of fortune cookies that were at the restaurant.

The alarm went off at the Asian Express about 14 minutes after one sounded at the Chinese Chef Restaurant down the street Thursday night, Ashley said.

When officers arrived, both restaurants had their front doors broken. At the second restaurant, the cash register had been pulled open.

Minutes later, officers stopped Middleton, who was walking down the street, and he dropped various coins and a prison identification card, Ashley said.

Ashley said it appeared there was nothing stolen from the first restaurant, and all that was missing from the second restaurant was $20 in change — and the fortune cookies.

TPD Detectives Make Quick Arrest

SUSPECT: Johnny Lee Rogers II, jailed on a first-degree burglary complaint and two complaints of assault and battery with a deadly weapon.

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer
3/6/2008

The suspect is the ex-boyfriend of a woman whose new boyfriend is the victim. A man was hospitalized with life-threatening head injuries after he was beaten early Wednesday.

Within 12 hours, detectives arrested Johnny Lee Rogers II, 24, in connection with the attack on William Goldesberry, 26. Rogers is the ex-boyfriend of a woman who is n