Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan told city leaders that gangs are a city wide problem in a meeting with the Tulsa City Council on Thursday.
Jordan told councilors at the public meeting that the city must not tolerate gang violence and must respond with the same anger no matter what part of town the violence happens.
"We all know its horrific but we have got to address tragic issues all over town," said Chief Jordan.
Chief Jordan said the biggest thing that city leaders could do to support the police department would be to help provide more funding to increase staff. His goal is to have 100 more officers by 2014. An increase would bring the total number of officers in Tulsa to 830. There are currently 15 officers in the TPD gang unit.
District 9 City Councilor G.T. Bynum said he wants, "Gang members to feel constant, crushing, unrelenting pressure." Bynum went on to tell FOX23 the council as a whole wants to be as supportive as they can in TPD's efforts. "In the past we have increased public safety across the board but I think you are going to see a specific focus on gangs."
Sgt. Sean Larkin, head of TPD's organized gang unit, said the gang unit has recovered 644 guns since 2008. "Those things are just a trigger pull away from another shooting or another homicide," said Sargeant Larkin. He also said that there were 54 homicides in Tulsa last year, a record low since 2004.
Jordan said officers will be conducting a multi-agency sweep sometime in the next few weeks.
