Tulsa's new police chief

Tulsa Mayor Bill LaFortune announced Tuesday, that Dave Been will lead the department into the future. <br><br>News on Six crime reporter Lori Fullbright explains how the choice was made. The four people

Tuesday, November 12th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa Mayor Bill LaFortune announced Tuesday, that Dave Been will lead the department into the future.

News on Six crime reporter Lori Fullbright explains how the choice was made. The four people from the police department who applied had to go through a civil service panel, then, be interviewed by a panel of city councilors and managers, then, a panel of citizens and finally one on one interviews with the mayor.

The mayor said all the candidates were so strong that each group involved in the process didn't think it necessary to look outside the department for the next chief.

Dave Been grew up in Tulsa, near Pine and Harvard, graduated from Rogers High and TU and got his masters from Oklahoma City University.

He says his three main priorities are: building relationships within the department and between officers and citizens, developing officers into strong leaders and keeping people safe. "We're at war. It's easy to be here, enjoy the sunshine and leaves turning and forget. We're fortunate not to be in some countries where we're reminded every day, but we must balance homeland security with fighting the regular crime."

Of course, Been must do all this with the tightest budget the city has seen in decades, while handling a lawsuit that was filed eight years ago by a handful of black officers.