Interim Police Chief On The Job

Tuesday, May 22nd 2007, 5:00 pm

By: News On 6

Tulsa's new, but temporary, police chief is now on the job. The News On 6â€™s Emory Bryan reports heâ€™s planning meetings in the community beginning this weekend. Four days after his introduction as Tulsa's Interim Police Chief, David Bostrom says he's already working on new ideas, with suggestions from commanders and officers at each division.

"I've been able to meet the command staff, the folks who run the program as well as the people who do the work, the officers and sergeants who patrol the streets," said Tulsa Police Interim Chief David Bostrom.

Chief Bostrom has plenty of meetings behind him on everything from the budget to moving city hall. He was part of the discussion on a possible new department policy on checking immigration status, and heâ€™s spent some time responding to media questions about the department. He hasn't had time to do much else, he says, besides find an apartment. In fact, the two pictures hanging on his office wall were there when he started.

"I spent a couple of hours doing Mayfest and that's as close to the community as I've been able to get, but I hope to this weekend, it's a long weekend and I hope to get out and meet some community people," Bostrom said.

Chief Bostrom hasn't been sworn in yet, but will be, and he already has a badge but not a uniform. He says he's asked all his officers to come up with ideas for improving the department, with only one requirement.

"Things that don't cost a bunch of money because we don't have a bunch of money to spend,â€ he said. â€œThe things that can be at little or no cost that can have an impact on their ability to do their job."

Even though Chief Bostrom is the head of the department, he's not a certified Oklahoma officer. He's going to pursue that, but says he needs some practice shooting because he hasn't carried a gun in the last dozen years.

Watch the video: Tulsa's New Top Cop Getting Situated

WEB EXTRA: Extended Interview With Tulsa's Interim Police Chief David Bostrom