TPD introduces new initiative to keep local LGBTQ+ community safe

TULSA, Okla. — Tulsa Police Department (TPD) is introducing a new initiative to keep the LGBTQ+ community safe.

TPD said they are increasing patrol around several LGBTQ+ businesses in Tulsa. They also have officers checking in, face-to-face, with these businesses on a daily basis.

The deputy chief introduced the idea one day after the deadly Colorado springs mass shooting that happened in an LGBTQ+ night club.

More than a dozen officers are doing the leg work on the initiative and the response from both officers and the community has been great.

TPD is not sure how long they will keep the initiative going at this point.

TPD said they have received no direct threats to the community or the businesses they are patrolling, this is a preventative measure.

The crime where someone threw a Molotov cocktail at a doughnut shop earlier this month is also a driving factor.

Matty, a bartender at the Eagle, one of the bars that the police have started patrolling said hearing about the shooting in Colorado was tough.

“Hearing the news about Colorado - it definitely, it was heavy,” Matty said.

“They [TPD] definitely made their presence known, they came into the bar one night and said ‘hey - we know about Colorado, so we’re taking extra precautions’” Matty added.

Matty said that despite this acts of hate, the community is still thriving.

“We’re still here, regardless, and I think that’s the great thing about the Tulsa community it’s thriving and we support each other as much as we can right now,” Matty said.

Tulsa Police Captain and Community LGBTQIA+ Liaison Tom Bell said they have increased patrols in all of the city’s LGBTQ+ establishments.

“What we did is following that shooting - we increased patrols in all of the areas where all of these establishments are located. it’s not only and increase in the patrols - we actually have out officer stopping in at least once a day and checking in with the manager, organizer proprietor,” Bell said.

“One of our priorities is that we serve the community of Tulsa and that includes the entire community - and that includes LBTQ+. We want everyone to have peace of mind living in Tulsa,” he added.