Dennis Larsen is the current Tulsa police chief, sworn in as the department’s 41st chief on May 24, 2024, after being appointed by Mayor G.T. Bynum.1Tulsa Police Department. Meet the Chief He leads roughly 810 sworn officers across three operational bureaus and took the job after a 45-year career inside the Tulsa Police Department, making him one of the longest-tenured officers ever to hold the position.
Who Dennis Larsen Is
Larsen rose through nearly every rank at TPD before reaching the top job. He served as Captain from 1997 to 2006 and as Major from 2005 to 2007, then was promoted to Deputy Chief of Police over the Operations Bureau in 2007.1Tulsa Police Department. Meet the Chief He later moved over to lead the Investigations Bureau, the role he held when Mayor Bynum selected him as the next chief.2Tulsa Police Department. Dennis Larsen Named Next Tulsa Chief of Police
His appointment overlapped with the final weeks of outgoing Chief Wendell Franklin, who retired on July 31, 2024. The two served concurrently so the handoff would happen in real time rather than through a vacancy.2Tulsa Police Department. Dennis Larsen Named Next Tulsa Chief of Police Franklin, the 40th chief, had been chosen through a process that included public town halls and a citizen interview panel.3City of Tulsa. Mayor Selects Wendell Franklin as Tulsa’s 40th Police Chief
How The Chief Is Selected
Under Tulsa’s charter, the mayor is the city’s chief administrator and manages all administrative departments, which puts the police chief appointment squarely in the mayor’s hands.4Tulsa City Council. City of Tulsa Government Guide The position itself is classified as a permanent civil service role rather than a political appointment that turns over with each election.3City of Tulsa. Mayor Selects Wendell Franklin as Tulsa’s 40th Police Chief
Recent selections have folded in substantial public input. When Mayor Bynum picked Chief Franklin in 2020, the process opened with internal applications and moved through three public town halls and a community forum where residents described what they wanted in a chief. Multiple rounds of interviews followed, including a panel of community members.3City of Tulsa. Mayor Selects Wendell Franklin as Tulsa’s 40th Police Chief Larsen’s 2024 selection drew on a similar framework, with the mayor making the final call.
What The Chief Runs
The chief oversees a department of roughly 810 sworn officers, organized into three bureaus, each led by a deputy chief who reports to the chief directly. The Operations Bureau handles patrol across three geographic divisions: Riverside, Mingo Valley, and Gilcrease. The Investigations Bureau covers the Detective Division and Special Investigations Division. The Administrative Bureau manages internal support.5Tulsa Police Department. Leadership and Structure
The department is authorized for up to 941 officers but currently runs below that, with about 20 cadets in training. A 2024 state law temporarily delayed retirements by increasing pension benefits for officers with more than 25 years of service, and a wave of eligible departures is expected around July 2026. Tulsa also stands out as the only municipal department in Oklahoma that requires its officers to hold a bachelor’s degree, which narrows the applicant pool and makes retention a constant concern as federal agencies recruit experienced TPD officers away.
Who The Chief Answers To
The chief reports to the mayor, who holds executive authority over all city departments.4Tulsa City Council. City of Tulsa Government Guide The Tulsa City Council adds a second layer of oversight through the annual budget process and reviews of department performance. In practical terms, the chief answers to the mayor on day-to-day operations and to the council on spending and policy.
Tulsa also has a Citizen Advisory Board that meets with police leadership on community policing priorities. The board grew out of the Tulsa Commission on Community Policing, which produced 77 recommendations on local policing practices.6City of Tulsa. City of Tulsa Creates Citizen Advisory Board and Action Groups as Part of Community Policing Initiative The board does not have binding authority over the chief, but it gives residents a formal channel to raise concerns directly with department leadership.