Some Tulsa residents say first black police chief not enough

Tulsa Police Major Wendell Franklin named Police Chief by Mayor G.T. Bynum

An Oklahoma mayor selected the city’s first black police chief, but some community leaders believe his appointment will not alleviate the distrust of police officers in communities of color, particularly among black citizens.

Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum selected Major Wendell Franklin, 46, to succeed Chief Chuck Jordan, who is retiring Feb. 1.

Some think Franklin’s historic appointment is worthy of some celebration within Tulsa’s African American community. But others think having a black police chief does not change anything.