Tulsa Police To Honor Two Civilians

The Tulsa Police Department will honor two civilians at a special ceremony on Tuesday.

Chief Chuck Jordan will present a Tulsa Police Department Citizen Appreciation Award to Harold French Jr. and Lauryn Bohls.  French will receive the award for helping capture a homicide suspect.  Bohls will be presented the award for her assistance with a found child.

According to a news release, on November 20, 2011, Bohls had just left her home when she noticed 4-year-old Gage Goodman walking in the 5800 block South Utica Avenue.  It was a cold morning and the boy could not tell Bohls where his parents were.  Bohls stayed with the child and helped police search the area until his parents were eventually located.

Bohls is a nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Saint Francis Hospital. The department says her "good citizenship mirrors her devotion to the care of helpless children at her place of work."

French is being honored for actions that led to an arrest in the beatings of Bob and Nancy Strait.  Nancy Strait died shortly after she and her husband were discovered on March 14, 2012. Bob Strait died a few weeks later. 

5/4/2012: Related Story: Elderly Tulsa Attack Victim, Bob Strait, Dies Friday

On March 14, 2012, French called 911 to report he was following the victims' 2001 Dodge Neon which had been missing from their home.  French continued to follow the vehicle until it stopped in front of a home in the 5700 block of East Easton Avenue. 

French was nominated for the award by Major Tracie Lewis, who wrote "without the invaluable assistance and concern for justice of Mr. Harold A. French, Jr., the suspect may not have been apprehended so soon."