Help needed: Police Chief Wendell Franklin and Fire Chief Michael Baker on staffing issues and more

Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.

For this month’s issue of the magazine, I wrote about the staffing issues that are impacting our first responders in policing, fire and EMSA and how they’re trying to fill the gaps in protection. 

I also took part in a ridealong with TPD patrol officer John Shelton, who works in the Mingo Valley Division, which is based in east Tulsa. It’s the busiest division in terms of calls, and the November night I was in a car, the calls were nonstop. 

I wrote about some of that experience to highlight the job they have to do while short staffed. I also shared a photo gallery in the online version story. 

I talked to both Police Chief Wendell Franklin and Fire Department Chief Michael Baker. Both are in their second year on the job, and both have their own challenges to face to help keep Tulsa safe. Both men shared way more info than I could fit in the story, so I’m doing it here.  

Franklin is a repeat guest of the podcast, but this was the first time I sat down with him face-to-face to interview him. We talked in his office on Nov. 16. Something I like about Franklin is he’s a history buff and a reader. He filled me in on the Daniel Silva spy series that filled a shelf or two after we talked about his job. And now I have more books to read.

In this conversation, you’ll hear Franklin talk about the morale of his officers before getting into why they are stretched thin. He talks about how staffing issues are impacting community policing, which he calls collaborative policing. He also discusses the benefits of the pay raise and the pros and cons of the TPD’s 4-year degree requirement. 

One of the most complicated topics of the year is the McGirt decision, which upholds tribal sovereignty and has an impact on policing. Local politicians have shared their opinions. I wanted to hear from Franklin his thoughts on how they are handling the changes and what can be done to make the transition easier for everyone.  He then concludes by talking about the year in crime. Homicides are down and violent crime is up. Franklin shares his thoughts maybe why this is the case.

After my conversation with him, hear from TFD Chief Baker on how they’ve overhauled the application and hiring process to take the department into the 21st century. He also talks about the morale of a department that has seen many fire fighters retire and is currently in arbitration for more funding to pay fire fighters and fix equipment. 

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The guys who make up Jasper Wilderness took advantage of the pandemic to grow together as a band. In November the alt-rockers released their five song EP “Coming Home to Silence.” 

Coming in our January issue is a story about the release. 

Lead singer Gabe Philips says: “Coming Home to Silence" was born out of a lot of artistic writing sessions that we wouldn’t have been able to have without the lockdown. The band is a small, tight-knit group and were able to meet during the craziness and get good creative energy/get on the same page about how to pursue music. Now the band has a great foundation for stepping out and playing live.”

And with that here is the EP track “Alibi.“