TULSA — Mayor G.T. Bynum has confirmed to KRMG that he will name TPD Major Wendell Franklin as the next police chief for the city of Tulsa.

Franklin, 46, had most recently served as commander of the department's Headquarters Division.

In a public forum featuring the four finalists for the position held last Friday, Franklin spoke about the importance of using modern technology and data-driven decision making to enhance public safety.

And, he promised to make the gathering and dissemination of that data as transparent as possible.

Franklin was promoted over three deputy chiefs who were also finalists, Jonathan Brooks, Eric Dalgleish, and Dennis Larsen.

Franklin grew up in Tulsa, and at only two years old, lost his mother to violence.

But, he said Friday, he hadn't planned on a career in law enforcement until after he graduated from Booker T Washington High School.

He enrolled at Tulsa Community College, where a counselor steered him toward criminal justice.

He has served with the department for 23 years.