The Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) is set to reshuffle its trooper deployment, focusing more on regions with heightened needs for its presence, and entrusting metropolitan areas with interstate patrol duties. Starting November 1, the OHP will redirect its efforts away from Oklahoma City and Tulsa, putting responsibility for patrolling interstates within these cities' limits into the hands of local law enforcement. This transition was confirmed in statements issued by the OHP and referenced by KFOR and News on 6.
In its pursuit of higher efficiency and adaptability to the state's evolving public safety requirements, OHP has expressed its confidence in the abilities of professional law enforcement agencies within OKC and Tulsa. However, this move has not been well-received across the board, as Del City Police Chief Loyd Berger reported to KOCO that the decision caught his department off guard, raising concerns about the implications of this sudden shift in responsibility.
The rationale behind OHP's strategic realignment targets the interstate and highway areas with significant traffic but less local law enforcement coverage. OHP believes that reallocating its troopers to these areas will better serve the state's overall public safety needs. The changes, which is due to take effect on November 1, will see OHP stepping back from active patrols within the OKC metro and Tulsa, passing on the mantle to local agencies in Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, Norman, Midwest City, and Del City.
Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police President Chief Todd Gibson has been privy to the conversations surrounding these developments, although specific remarks from him on the matter were not disclosed within the sourced information. The lead-up to the transition has been marked by preparation and planning, with updates expected as the date approaches. Despite the certainty, and affirmation from OHP regarding local departments' readiness, the Del City Police Chief's reaction indicates that practice might clash with theory when responsibilities are officially transferred.
