Mayor Monroe Nichols is shifting the role of public safety commissioner from an appointed cabinet role to a civil service position, the Tulsa Flyer confirmed Thursday evening. The move occurred a day after Tulsa City Council unanimously approved next year’s fiscal budget.
The change also comes as Nichols launches the Department of Emergency Management, the first of its kind in the city tasked with coordinating emergency responses and preparation, disaster management and conducting hazard assessments.
Laurel Roberts continues in her role as the appointed public safety commissioner and is serving as the interim head of the emergency management department, according to a press release from the city.
Nichols created the public safety commissioner position when he took office in November 2024, upholding his campaign promise. The role is tasked to serve as a liaison between public safety agencies under one leader in the mayor’s administration. Roberts has been the only person to serve in that role and earns $170,000.
A listing for the job was posted Thursday afternoon but was removed by that evening. No salary was included in the description.
“The position was posted as a civil service position and the process will proceed based on our human resources processes,” said Michelle Brooks, press secretary for Nichols.
The decision caught Tulsa city councilors off guard. Several councilors told the Flyer the mayor’s office never contacted them about the change.
“I only became aware of this a few hours ago,” said Council Chair Karen Gilbert, who represents District 5. “It was not communicated to us during any of our budget discussions. We, too, need to gather more information of his plan.”
Christian Bengel, council vice chair who represents District 6, also voiced concern over lack of communication. While unsure of what impact it would have on city government functions, Bengel said he and his colleagues will have to “digest” the decision before they know what is to come.
“It certainly wasn’t communicated at any point during our budget considerations, so I think it’s not something we’ve been a part of,” Bengel said.
District 8 Councilor Phil Lakin said he is unsure of the mayor’s plan.
“He nor his staff have communicated any of this to me,” Lakin said.
Brooks said the change of the position to civil service “will help strengthen the City’s organizational framework as it relates to public safety in Tulsa,” in a statement Thursday evening.
“A civil service position in this instance can help ensure continuity, coordination, and long-term leadership across all public safety functions, including police, fire, emergency management, municipal court, and animal services,” Brooks said.
Before becoming the public safety commissioner, Roberts worked as a Tulsa Police officer since 1996, becoming the first woman in TPD’s gang unit.
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