Tulsans may have been surprised and perhaps a little miffed when presidential debate moderator Chris Wallace cited their city as one whose violent crime rate has risen under a Republican mayor.
“There have been a dramatic increase in homicides in America this summer, particularly. And you often blame that on Democratic mayors and Democratic governors, but in fact there have been equivalent spikes in Republican-led cities, like Tulsa, and Fort Worth. So the question is, is this really a party issue?” Wallace asked President Donald Trump during Tuesday’s debate.
According to statistics posted by the Tulsa Police Department, Tulsa had 54 homicides through the end of August. At that rate, it would have 81 by the end of the year.
That would surpass the all-time high of 75 set in 2017.
Tulsa recorded 61 homicides in 2018 and 56 in 2019, according to TPD.
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Other serious crimes are a mixed bag. Rape and robbery are in line with recent years while aggravated assault was sharply higher over the summer, perhaps as the result of more people confined to their homes.
Conversely, burglaries are down over the same period.
“We have seen crime rates increase in Tulsa over the course of this year, as have most cities around the country,” Mayor G.T. Bynum said in a written statement. “This is not a partisan issue. We must remain vigilant and committed to proper police department staffing, technology, and innovation.
“That is why we have spent the last four years funding the most significant increase in staffing in Tulsa Police Department history, and why it is so important that we do not stop hiring until our Police Department is properly staffed,” Bynum continued. “That is why I hired a chief of police who is focused on using technology and innovation to make Tulsa safer. And that is why I am so thankful for our federal partners who are working with us through projects like the 2150 Initiative to get illegal guns out of the hands of criminals.”
Video: moments from the first presidential debate
