Oklahoma AG Orders Highway Patrol to Maintain Metro Coverage Oklahoma City Tulsa

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has issued a legally binding opinion declaring that the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) must continue patrolling interstates within Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and other major metropolitan areas, rejecting the Department of Public Safety's plan to withdraw troopers from these urban regions. Drummond emphasized that state law assigns OHP the primary authority and a mandatory duty to patrol all interstates, including those in densely populated areas, and that shifting this responsibility to local law enforcement is unlawful and jeopardizes public safety. The OHP leadership, under DPS Commissioner Tim Tipton and Governor Kevin Stitt's administration, had announced plans to reallocate resources to rural highways starting November 1, citing higher call volumes and the need to support less-covered areas. However, Drummond's opinion highlights the indispensability of OHP's presence in metro areas to ensure the safety of over 1.4 million residents, aligning with concerns expressed by local law enforcement officials and city leaders such as Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum. Drummond expressed willingness to collaborate with DPS and OHP leadership to develop a legally compliant plan that safeguards all Oklahomans, while criticizing the lack of prior consultation from OHP regarding the withdrawal plan. This decisive intervention underscores the Attorney General's commitment to upholding public safety as a fundamental government function and maintaining robust law enforcement coverage throughout the state.