Tulsa’s new top cop is a longtime face on the force. Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols named Deputy Chief Jonathan Brooks Thursday as the city’s next chief of police — 31 days after Tulsa Police Chief Dennis Larsen announced his upcoming retirement.
Nichols told a boardroom full of law enforcement officers, city staff and members of the media on the 15th floor of City Hall he did not appoint Brooks “because he is a convenient choice.”
“I’m appointing him because people told me what they wanted in the next police chief, and I believe he embodies all of it,” Nichols said.
Brooks was first hired as a TPD patrol officer in 1998. He began leading the department’s Riverside Division in 2013 and has served as a deputy chief over the department’s Administrative Bureau since 2015, among other roles.
“I accept this responsibility with a clear understanding of what the people of Tulsa and the officers expect from us and from its chief of police, and it’s very simple: Tulsans expect us to keep them safe,” Brooks said.
He said TPD needs to earn its trust from the community.
“Our officers need residents who feel like they can call us, work with us and tell us what is happening and trust us when they need help. That trust is not given, it must be earned,” Brooks said. “…An open dialogue must continue if we want to make real changes in our city.”
Brooks’ tenure as TPD chief begins Sunday, Aug. 23. He and Larsen will serve jointly until Larsen’s retirement Sept. 30.
Brooks is married to Michelle Brooks, who serves as the director of communications for the City of Tulsa and the mayor’s office.
Only three councilors attend announcement after calls for a national search
Despite councilors’ calls for a national search for candidates, the job was posted only as an internal listing on the City of Tulsa’s website.
In his announcement Thursday, Nichols referenced the discussion about internal versus external recruitment for the job.
“I know there was some folks who said you’ve got to stay internal, some folks that said you’ve got to go external,” he said. “But at the end of the day, the decision, the analysis was never going to be about who took the longest flight to get here.”
Nichols said “contrary to some rumors, there was no predetermined outcome” on the selection of Brooks.
Brooks applied for the police chief post during the last three vacancies. He threw his name in the applicant pool after former Chief Chuck Jordan retired in December 2019 and again when former Chief Wendell Franklin retired in July 2024. Maj. Paul Fields was the only other internal candidate to apply for the position this summer, according to reporting from the Tulsa World.
Brooks’ hire comes as the department works through an ongoing officer shortage, establishes its first new patrol division in more than 35 years focused on downtown and its surrounding districts — as well as calls for culture change from some city councilors, many of whom wanted a national search for the police chief job.
District 6 Councilor Christian Bengel, District 2 Councilor Anthony Archie and District 5 Councilor Karen Gilbert were the only members of Tulsa City Council to attend the news conference. In a statement sent to the Flyer before the announcement, Bengel said he would lend his full support to Nichols’ pick.
“Regardless of whomever the Mayor announces to take Chief Larsen’s role on Oct. 1, I think it’s imperative that we support that person as they navigate the challenges in overseeing a complex organization in a different capacity,” Bengel said.
In a statement provided to the Flyer, District 4 Councilor Laura Bellis said she looks forward to working with Brooks and hopes to increase public transparency, accountability and trust with TPD. She also expressed concern about the quick hiring process.
“Having known Chief Brooks for a decade, I appreciate his willingness to engage in difficult conversations and expressed commitment to community policing,” Bellis said. “The swift hiring process and small applicant pool concerns me. The lack of applicants, in contrast to past hiring cycles for the role, combined with the troubling data on policing from the recent Equality Indicators report points to needed culture and policy changes.”
Executive director and founder of Block Builderz, D’Marria Monday, said she had hoped Nichols would expand the candidate pool beyond the current force but remains confident in Brooks, citing his experience.
The nonprofit provides resources for justice-involved people.
“I am hopeful that Chief Brooks will remain steadfast in his commitment to bridging the gap between the police department and the people they serve,” Monday said. “I trust his pledge to listen to our community’s needs and his understanding that every resident deserves to feel safe. Public safety relies on the belief that concerns will be heard and addressed with integrity.
“Chief Brooks has demonstrated that he is not afraid to tackle complex issues, and I believe he will stay dedicated to reducing systemic injustices in North Tulsa and other marginalized communities.”
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