The Tulsa Police Department’s homicide unit has long had a reputation for its high percentage of cases cleared, and it had a banner year in 2024.

According to Lt. Brandon Watkins, lead homicide detective for TPD, they solved all 50 homicides which occurred in their jurisdiction last year.

[Hear the KRMG In Depth Report on Flock cameras and the Tulsa Homicide Division HERE]

Asked whether Flock cameras had been a major factor in that remarkable statistic, he didn’t quibble.

“You wouldn’t be talking to me right now about a one hundred percent clearance rate if we didn’t have the Flock cameras,” Watkins told KRMG. “Those cameras have changed the game for us. It’s made it incredibly difficult for criminals to get away with what they, they’ve done.”

“There were several homicides over the last year and a half to two years that Flock has played a significant role in, and about, I would say 95 percent of the murders that we’ve solved, it’s played some role in,” Watkins added.

Recently, Rep. Tom Gann (R-Inola) held an interim study on ALPRs, or automated license plate readers like Flock cameras.

He claimed they actually violate state law, and are a privacy concern because they could track citizens as they go to medical facilities, or political rallies, or faith-based gatherings.

Watkins attended the October hearing, he says, and a lot of Gann’s concerns are “pretty explainable,” but no one asked him or his fellow peace officers for their opinions.

KRMG reached out to Rep. Gann, who did respond, and our reporter hopes to get his response tomorrow (Wednesday).