49 min
Leading during a pandemic - Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum and Chief of Police Wendell Franklin TulsaPeople Magazine
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- Education
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
It has been two months since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down most of Tulsa. It’s been one year since historic flooding created an ongoing crisis in Tulsa.
On this episode Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum discusses how last May’s flooding prepared him to lead the City’s response to the pandemic. He also reflects on the past two months and where he sees us headed.
We kick off our conversation discussing G.T. Bynum the family man. Like many other Tulsans, he’s a partner and a parent, which meant home schooling and everything else that comes with quarantine. As you’ll hear, it’s created some wonderful lifelong memories for the Bynums.
The Mayor also discusses the mental and physical health impact the early days of the pandemic had on him and what he found works for him to improve both aspects of his life.
We did not discuss Tesla. Our 20-minute phone conversation on May 19 occurred hours before the golden driller became giant Elon Musk. Bynum has also previously stated he cannot comment on potential projects.
Following my chat with the mayor, my second guest on this episode is Tulsa Chief of Police Wendell Franklin on policing during a pandemic. More on that later.
Let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks.
Wendell Franklin is a 23-year veteran of the Tulsa Police Department. He knows the department well. During his career he led all three TPD divisions.
On Feb. 1 he became the new chief of police. He did not get much time to adjust to his new role before the pandemic forced a shutdown and changed the responsibilities of the department.
Franklin discusses policing during a pandemic and how fortunate he and others were to have a Tulsa pandemic playbook sitting on the shelf. He also talks about what it’s been like to closely work with this episode’s first guest.
There were 10 murders in April. That’s the most in that month dating back to 1989 according to the Tulsa World. Franklin shares his thoughts on why there was a spike in homicide.
On May 11 Tulsa Police made an arrest in connection to the 2011 murder of Peggy Gaytan. Franklin reflects on the importance of closing the 9-year-old case.
Franklin is a lifelong Tulsan, who graduated from Booker T. Washington. He’s a reader and enjoys studying World War 2. The 46-year-old shares how this led him to better understand and appreciate what Tulsa has overcome the last two months and how proud he is of his fellow citizens for how they have responded to the pandemic.
Here is my conversation with Police Chief Wendell Franklin.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
It has been two months since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down most of Tulsa. It’s been one year since historic flooding created an ongoing crisis in Tulsa.
On this episode Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum discusses how last May’s flooding prepared him to lead the City’s response to the pandemic. He also reflects on the past two months and where he sees us headed.
We kick off our conversation discussing G.T. Bynum the family man. Like many other Tulsans, he’s a partner and a parent, which meant home schooling and everything else that comes with quarantine. As you’ll hear, it’s created some wonderful lifelong memories for the Bynums.
The Mayor also discusses the mental and physical health impact the early days of the pandemic had on him and what he found works for him to improve both aspects of his life.
We did not discuss Tesla. Our 20-minute phone conversation on May 19 occurred hours before the golden driller became giant Elon Musk. Bynum has also previously stated he cannot comment on potential projects.
Following my chat with the mayor, my second guest on this episode is Tulsa Chief of Police Wendell Franklin on policing during a pandemic. More on that later.
Let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks.
Wendell Franklin is a 23-year veteran of the Tulsa Police Department. He knows the department well. During his career he led all three TPD divisions.
On Feb. 1 he became the new chief of police. He did not get much time to adjust to his new role before the pandemic forced a shutdown and changed the responsibilities of the department.
Franklin discusses policing during a pandemic and how fortunate he and others were to have a Tulsa pandemic playbook sitting on the shelf. He also talks about what it’s been like to closely work with this episode’s first guest.
There were 10 murders in April. That’s the most in that month dating back to 1989 according to the Tulsa World. Franklin shares his thoughts on why there was a spike in homicide.
On May 11 Tulsa Police made an arrest in connection to the 2011 murder of Peggy Gaytan. Franklin reflects on the importance of closing the 9-year-old case.
Franklin is a lifelong Tulsan, who graduated from Booker T. Washington. He’s a reader and enjoys studying World War 2. The 46-year-old shares how this led him to better understand and appreciate what Tulsa has overcome the last two months and how proud he is of his fellow citizens for how they have responded to the pandemic.
Here is my conversation with Police Chief Wendell Franklin.
49 min