By Daniela Ibarra
In a one-on-one interview, Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin talked with NewsChannel 8 about how to handle the high crime seen at 61st and Peoria.
“The area of 61st and Peoria is not something that just the police department alone can address,” he said. “That’s going to take other city leaders to help address those issues.”
NewsChannel 8 asked Franklin if he felt like the department was lacking when it comes to community policing.
He didn’t answer our question directly the first time, so we asked him again.
Franklin said yes, adding there’s opportunity for improvement, and the south Tulsa community agrees.
In the middle of NewsChannel 8’s interview with neighbor Keith Lemaster, the Tulsa Police helicopter zoomed over his home.
“Yeah, you hear that quite a bit,” he said of the loud chopper.
Lemaster lives just blocks away from 61st and Peoria, a part of town with a reputation for violence.
“I hear gunshots at night,” he said. “Different things.”
Because of NewsChannel 8’s relentless reporting on the area, Tulsa City Councilor Jayme Fowler said 75 “bad actors” have been evicted from Savanna Landing.
This year alone, at least seven people were shot at the apartment complex.
“The reporting has been very positive in the sense that there’s been just this heightened awareness,” said Fowler.
That heightened awareness led to a tour throughout the area on Thursday.
Representatives from different Tulsa organizations were there.
“We really want to show firsthand not just the problems, but also really the opportunities also,” said Fowler.
NewsChannel 8 asked Franklin how he’s using his position to make a change there.
“We don’t have the ability to sit there and have 10 officers and sit at 61st and Peoria,” he said.
We played Franklin’s comments for Lemaster.
“What do you think about his comments?” asked NewsChannel 8’s Daniela Ibarra.
“It sounds like he doesn’t want to do anything,” said Lemaster. “They said we’re doing what we can, and you know, it’s not really our responsibility to be babysit in this area, but you know, I just feel like we’re not represented enough by the police here.”
Fowler said those feelings can’t be ignored, but said it’s also on city leaders to help curb crime.
“You can’t put the burden completely on the police,” he said. “A lot of other stakeholders have got to be involved, but I do understand their concerns.”
