Tulsa public-safety chief outlines women-focused recruitment, trail-safety and victim services efforts

Commissioner Laurel Roberts, the City of Tulsa's commissioner of public safety, told members of a city commission on Friday that city efforts on safety will emphasize recruitment and retention of women in police and fire, improved support services for victims of violence and public education about trail and neighborhood safety.

Roberts said the police department is pursuing a ‘‘30 by 30'' initiative to reach 30% female representation by 2030 and is using pathway programs with colleges to recruit and train new officers. "We're starting to see our numbers go up," Roberts said, noting recent academy classes that offered up to 30 positions and that previous classes had much lower fills.

The commission is completing a unit of inquiry on health, safety and empowerment and had invited Roberts to explain city initiatives, current data and immediate safety concerns. "We are in the third unit of inquiry," Mara Lada, chair of the commission and executive director of the Tulsa Higher Education Consortium, said in opening remarks, introducing Roberts to speak about safety.

Why this matters: Roberts framed the recruitment and inclusion work as both workforce and public-safety issues: more diverse ranks, she said, bring different perspectives to policing and operational responses. She described changes to internal policies and equipment that address women's needs, such as female-specific sizing for tactical gear and dedicated lactation rooms at city police facilities, and encouraged continued efforts to make police and fire departments more inclusive.

On recruitment and career pathways, Roberts described a program that allows academy cadets to earn college credit while completing training and noted the department pays trainees during that final semester. She estimated current female representation in the force at about 15% to 17% and said she is "optimistic" about increasing that share through targeted recruiting, pathway programs, and retention measures that address practical workplace needs.

Roberts also discussed the fire department's recruitment challenges, saying physical standards and living arrangements make recruiting women into fire service harder than for police. She said the fire department recently hired an October class that will include two women and that only a small number of women applied for a recent firefighter class.

Trail and neighborhood safety: Roberts addressed public concern following high-profile incidents on local trails, including attacks near Turkey Mountain and Hunter Park and a separate missing-person report nearby. She cautioned against letting those incidents alone shape perceptions of risk and urged practical precautions. "Attackers look for people who are unaware," Roberts said. "Having situational awareness... trusting your instincts" were among her safety recommendations.

Roberts declined to advocate specific personal choices such as carrying a firearm, saying such decisions require individual deliberation, and instead urged planning, self-defense training and stronger social networks as ways for people to reduce risk.

Victim services and prevention: Roberts described a multidisciplinary, trauma-informed approach to human trafficking and domestic-violence responses, emphasizing partnerships with social-service organizations and former victims. She said the city is preparing a family safety center at 20 E. 8th and Sheridan to expand support for victims and survivors and that the municipal courts now fall under her portfolio.

Discussion points raised by commissioners included: whether public education campaigns (equivalent to campus "consent" efforts) could be adapted for broader adult audiences; how to engage men in efforts to reduce violence; and whether more pre-crime violence-interrupter work or rehabilitation programming could be scaled. Roberts pointed to existing post-adjudication rehabilitation programs and the city's domestic-violence commission as parts of the current response framework.

Commissioner Roberts also highlighted homelessness interventions with an emphasis on women and children and noted partnerships aimed at housing supports for single mothers and young families.

Votes at a glance: The meeting recorded one formal action: approval of meeting minutes. A motion to approve the minutes was made, seconded by Meghan, and passed by voice vote. The meeting transcript does not provide a numerical roll-call tally.

Ending: Roberts invited commissioners to contact her office with follow-up questions and said she would return as a guest to continue the conversation. "If there's anything that anybody needs at the table, then I'm upstairs," Roberts said. "Happy to help or answer questions."