By Joseph Mahan, FOX23 News
TULSA, Okla. — The City of Tulsa and Tulsa County have reached a five-year detention services agreement that will allow the Tulsa Police Department to utilize the Tulsa County Jail for detention services for municipal arrests.
The agreement establishes a longer-term solution for the City following the closure of its Municipal Lockup facility in July and represents a step toward utilizing community services already in place with aligned supports, the City said.
TPD has always utilized the Tulsa County Jail for individuals booked with state charges, but for almost a decade, has had a separate lock-up for individuals with municipal charges only. With this agreement, the City will utilize the David L. Moss for both municipal and state charges.
“This agreement was about working together to make government more efficient, responsible and effective for the people we serve,” Mayor Monroe Nichols said. “When we made the decision to close the Municipal Lockup, we knew we needed a sustainable path forward that would continue to meet the needs of our police department and municipal court system and for individuals utilizing the facility. Through this partnership with Tulsa County, we have an opportunity to improve how these services are delivered while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.”
While the agreement provides a foundation for the City’s long-term use of the Tulsa County Jail, the City and County will continue coordinating additional administrative procedures related to Tulsa Police supervision, records, bonding and court operations to support the transition.
The City said these improvements to Tulsa’s detention needs are part of a broader effort to evaluate how the City delivers services, identify opportunities to streamline operations and ensure public resources are being used effectively.
“Getting to this agreement took a lot of people working together and staying focused on finding a practical solution,” Council Chair Karen Gilbert said. “I appreciate the partnership between the City, County, law enforcement and court officials that helped make this possible.”
The City said it is working closely with Tulsa Municipal Court judges, staff and Tulsa County staff that will allow for certain municipal court proceedings, including bond hearings, to be conducted virtually at David L. Moss.
