Tulsa Police To Battle Second Winter Storm With Help From Fire Department

NewsOn6.com & Dan Bewley, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Tulsa Police are making plans to stay ahead of the storm.

TPD doesn't want a repeat of last week when some officers found themselves stuck along with other travelers.  The massive drifts forced several officers to use their personal vehicles on patrol.

"The neighborhoods were impassable and there was no way for us to get into the neighborhoods at all without those four wheel drive vehicles," Sergeant Stephen Boyes.

In preparation for this week's winter storm, the department will borrow 4-wheel drive trucks from the Tulsa Fire Department.

The arrangement with TFD will give them three trucks. 

It comes equipped with a tow cable and a 4x4 grip on the road, much better than the rear wheel Dodge Chargers or Crown Vics officers normally drive.

"As people know who have rear wheel drive vehicles, being out in this stuff, it's nearly impossible even on the main roads to get around much less on the neighborhood streets," Sergeant Boyes said.

TPD is also renting additional 4x4 trucks, and officers will be authorized to use their personal vehicles if the need arises.

Police will also go on Operation Slick Streets throughout the storm.

This means if you are involved in a non-injury collision, you‘re encouraged to go to a local QuikTrip and fill out a collision form yourself, or download it from the Tulsa Police website.

Tulsa Police is also asking drivers who have to abandon their vehicles to have them removed as soon as possible. They say any vehicles left on the shoulder will be checked to make sure it's empty then marked with a yellow tag.

Police say vehicles that become stuck and become a traffic hazard will be towed.

"Unless there's an emergency where you have to get to a hospital, or something like that, there's absolutely no reason to get out on the streets," Sergeant Boyes said.

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