Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols selects Johnathan Brooks as the city’s next police chief. He will take over for Chief Dennis Larsen who announced in July he will retire from his 47 years in law enforcement on Sept.30.
The announcement was made last night, just two days after a special meeting was called to interview potential candidates – and only a month after the search began.
Several city councilors have been critical of the search – calling it rushed and nontransparent. On social media, City Councilor Lori Decter-Wright wrote she wanted an external search conducted as the pool of candidates was too small – and the city should want the most qualified person for the job.
Nichols said they took a community approach and held several roundtables to find the qualities Tulsa most wanted in their next chief. He said Brooks was a clear choice.
Brooks and one other candidate were the only applicants from inside the department to have applied for the position.
Brooks was a finalist for chief in 2020 and 2024. He will work alongside Larsen until his retirement and is the 42nd chief of police for TPD.
