Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin announces plans to step down at the end of July

An internal email sent to Tulsa police department employees Wednesday indicates Chief Wendell Franklin will step down from his role effective July 31 of this year.

KRMG has reached out to the department, as well as to Chief Franklin directly, to learn more about the possible reasons for his announced departure.

Franklin was named to the job in February of 2020, just as the pandemic was taking hold, and immediately faced some major challenges regarding departmental policies on issues like wearing masks.

He also led the department through the trying times of the race massacre centennial, as well as Donald Trump’s return to the campaign trail following a COVID hiatus, and the civil unrest that resulted.

Franklin grew up in Tulsa and is a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School and Langston University.

He is the city’s 40th police chief; the hunt will now begin for the 41st.

Franklin’s full statement is posted below:

Tulsa is an amazing city with the most professional police department in America. I joined over 27 years ago because of the professionalism and high education requirements. I have had a great career which has added a sense of fulfillment to my life and I hope made Tulsa better. In Stephen Covey’s book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, he laments, “Begin with the end in mind.” During the interview process for Chief, I provided Mayor Bynum with my plan for TPD and after being selected, I often referred to the plan to keep me focused.

I knew I needed a great team to support new initiatives. So many employees in the police department and across the City of Tulsa immediately stepped up to help. I’m forever indebted to those who carried a tremendous load to make Tulsa Police better. I’m so proud of the members of the Tulsa community, who welcomed me with open arms and rolled up their sleeves to work alongside me. Business leaders in Tulsa mentored me and taught me leadership skills, which helped me become a better leader and a better man.

The previous four years have been challenging for Tulsa. Life-altering events such as the loss of Miracle and Tony Crook, a global pandemic, civil unrest, two presidential visits, Sgt. Craig Johnson’s murder, Ofc. Aurash Zarkeshan’s attempted murder, the Tulsa Race Massacre centennial, heated elections, a ransomware attack, the shootings at St. Francis, and the derecho weather event in 2023 made us stronger but also made many reevaluate life’s priorities.

I recently reviewed my original plan with Mayor Bynum and, despite all of these difficult situations and tragic events, we have achieved most of what we sought to achieve. The fulfillment of so many goals create a perfect opportunity to select the next Tulsa Police Chief.

Tulsa has a resilient department full of educated leaders and we have made incredible strides in a very short time. This is why I can rest easy announcing my retirement from the Tulsa Police Department. My last day will be July 31st.

I will remain in the Tulsa area, working for BOK Financial as the director of corporate security. The new role is a perfect fit for me. BOK Financial’s work culture is unmatched in the industry, and its presence in multiple markets will keep me busy. I was not actively searching for a new role; it found me. I know it is the right time for me to pass the responsibility and honor of serving as Tulsa’s Police Chief to another leader.

I look forward to continuing amplifying our great city in a new way and a new role.

Thank you, Tulsa.

Tulsa May G.T Bynum released a statement on Franklin’s retirement.

“I am profoundly grateful for Wendell Franklin’s service as Tulsa Chief of Police. Chief Franklin led the Tulsa Police Department through some of the most challenging times in our city’s history, and he leaves the Department better than he found it. I wish him nothing but the best in this next phase of his career,” Bynum said.

District 8 City Councilor, Phil Lakin said he hopes the next man or woman to fill this roll will be as focused on the City of Tulsa and their security like Franklin.

“He’s been a wonderful chief for our city, he’s implemented so many new programs at the Police Department. But he’s just such a likeable person, he’s relatable, he’s easy to have conversations with, he’s a natural leader and it’s not just the City Council he’s worked with, it’s the Mayor that he’s worked well with, and the citizens of Tulsa and those additional programs that he’s brought have been very influential and I think his legacy won’t just be today but it will be decades and centuries from now and people will look back at his time and say, ‘You know Wendell did a excellent job,’” Lakin said.

District 9 City Councilor Jayme Fowler, said Franklin will be missed and he did a great job.

“When things are going well things are really easy. I think you measure a person’s success when things aren’t easy, when there’s a lot of adversity. Chief Franklin has seen a lot of adversity now through the years. My four years he had COVID, he had Black Lives Matter, a lot of those issues, a number of different things along with his team they’ve handled things in a very professional way,” Fowler said.

“Whenever you’re a public servant you wake up and there is always something going on but when you can handle them with style and grace and professionalism it’s a good thing for our community and he’s done a very good job,” Fowler also said.