TULSA, Okla. — Governor Kevin Stitt is putting Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers to work in Tulsa to issue warnings and possibly arrest homeless people present on state property.
He's calling it Operation SAFE (Swift Action for Families Everywhere).
Stitt says Mayor Monroe Nichols and Tulsa leadership "haven't met the level of action needed to keep neighborhoods safe."
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“Tulsa is a beautiful city. I lived there for years. But today, everybody can see the disaster it’s turning into— homeless people on every corner, trash piling up, and Oklahoma families are being forced to live in fear," Stitt said.
Stitt says OHP has the legal authority to target state-owned property, including underpasses, highways, state buildings, and other state-controlled land.
He said he's had numerous conversations with Nichols over recent weeks, telling him to get control of the situation, but claims progress has fallen short of Tulsa residents' expectations.
This comes amid a push from the Governor and the Department of Public Safety to stop OHP troopers from responding to crashes on highways in Tulsa, claiming Tulsa police have the resources to handle those crashes.
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Mayor Nichols responded with this statement:
"First of all, Kevin Stitt has shown himself again to be an unserious person. When I took office, I inherited a homelessness crisis largely unaddressed by anyone in public office, including our two-term governor, who disbanded the interagency council on homelessness, which had a crippling impact on service providers, leading to what we have today. Instead of spending my time engaging in activities that won't reduce homelessness, I have created the Safe Move Initiative, which aims to get hundreds of people off the streets for good, rather than simply shifting the problem elsewhere. We have a goal to end homelessness by 2030, and we're on the pathway to doing that. I'm going to continue doing the job I was elected to do, and I am not interested in being lectured by someone who has proven time and time again that he only cares to intervene to score political points.
"As background on two separate areas, crime is down in all categories, and homelessness, which grew by over 20% the year before I took office, grew by only 4% this year. We have a long way to go, but we are making progress and will continue to do so. I will not be distracted or deterred from doing what we know is necessary to end this crisis in Tulsa."
In a press release, Stitt's office said OHP issued warnings and ODOT began posting notices at encampments over the last 24 hours "in accordance with 64 O.S. § 1097".
If OHP encounters an undocumented immigrant during the operation, they will be turned over to ICE, the press release said.
Under the Governor’s direction, troopers are offering homeless individuals two options:
- A ride to a treatment or housing facility.
- A ride to jail and face prosecution if they refuse help and continue breaking the law.
The governor's release included a statement of endorsement of SAFE from Tulsa Regional Chamber chair Bill Knight.
"Tulsa’s business community supports leadership that prioritizes the safety of those who live and work within our city and region," Knight said in the post. "We appreciate the governor’s actions to enforce the laws and bolster Tulsa's pursuit to enhance quality of life. This initiative complements the ongoing efforts by various Tulsa entities, reinforcing our collective commitment to addressing complex issues like homelessness and public safety.”
OHP sent this statement:
“Under the Governor’s direction, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol is carrying out Operation SAFE to restore order and enforce state law on state-owned property in Tulsa. Our Troopers are working professionally and firmly— issuing clear warnings, offering individuals a path to treatment or housing, and making arrests when laws are being broken. Troopers will ensure the public and their property are protected and ensure that our highways and underpasses are not overrun by encampments that endanger everyone. We are proud to carry out Governor Stitt's operation and put public safety first.”
Mental Health Association Oklahoma disagrees with the details of SAFE, posting a statement on Sept. 4 critical of the Gov. Stitt's decision.
"As a street outreach and housing service provider in the Tulsa area, we are extremely concerned by Governor Stitt’s 'Operation SAFE' program that does nothing to address the root cause of homelessness.
Each day, our outreach teams engage with Oklahomans experiencing homelessness and work tirelessly to get them into housing, connected with healthcare, and find a supportive community. Using Highway Patrol to clear encampments will not only traumatize Oklahomans trying to survive out in the elements but it does nothing to increase our supply of affordable housing and supportive services. At a time when the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has cut over $40 million in critical mental health services, Oklahomans desperately need more resources from our state government to address the root causes of homelessness, not push the issue to another street corner because we think it looks ugly.
We implore Governor Stitt to rethink Operation SAFE and instead, direct resources to increasing affordable housing, treatment, and supportive services in Tulsa."
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