Tulsa's Interim Police Chief: TPD Is Far From Sinking

By Jeffrey Smith, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Many Tulsa police officers met their new chief for the first time Saturday afternoon.

Interim Chief Chuck Jordan met about 100 officers and their families during a special meet-and-greet ceremony at the Tulsa Police Academy.

"I've heard a lot of times the last few weeks that the TPD is a sinking ship. I'm here to tell you it's not. We've taken some hits, but we've also manned our battle stations and we're repairing the damage. We are far from sinking," Interim Chief Chuck Jordan said during Saturday's meet-and greet.

Jordan painted a broad picture of how the department will look during his tenure. He says he'll form a leadership committee with officers from every rank and will regularly visit officers out in the field. 

But there's still some unfinished business. Jordan says even as he informally welcomes the officers, he's still fighting to bring back the 124 left behind.

Jordan said he is having fruitful, closed door meetings with Mayor Bartlett to hire back at least some laid off officers within the next few weeks.

"I say here and now, I will do everything within my power to return our laid off brothers and sisters back to work, as soon as possible," said Interim Chief Chuck Jordan.

Officer Chris O'Keefe says that's the biggest question in his mind. For the last four years, he has worked in the five-officer Street Crimes Unit in South Tulsa. But that specialty unit was dismantled. Now he's back on patrol.

"Unfortunately, I think it's in a police officer's nature to be a little bit gossipy, and you know, rumors tend to fly from one place to another. So it's really good to hear it straight from, straight from the Chief," said Officer Chris O'Keefe, Tulsa Police.

"We're working on several different avenues to try to get some of those officers back next week," said Jordan.

Chief Jordan also pledged a return to the beat system by spring, and says he'll always have an open door to any of his officers when it comes to personal matters.

Jordan said the worst is behind the department and he promised to be every officer's biggest fan. He also said that once the economy improves, he'll fight to increase officer pay.

2/4/2010  Related Story: Tulsa Police Chief To Meet With Officers Saturday

On January 22, Mayor Dewey Bartlett swore in Tulsa County Sheriff's Office Captain Chuck Jordan as Tulsa's interim police chief.

1/22/2010   Related story: Tulsa Mayor Decides To Change Leadership Of Police Department

According to a TPD news release, Jordan said one of the first items on his agenda was to meet with officers of the department.

Due to a winter storm and police layoffs, the meeting was delayed.

2/5/2010  Related Story: Get Guidelines For Reporting Non-Injury Tulsa Traffic Accident

2/1/2010  Related Story: City of Tulsa Is Back On Track To Balance Its Budget