Tulsa police chief Dennis Larsen to retire after nearly five decades of service

The City of Tulsa announced July 20, 2026, that Police Chief Dennis Larsen will retire after what the city described as nearly five decades of service.

The announcement confirms a forthcoming leadership transition at the Tulsa Police Department, one of the city’s principal public-safety agencies. Larsen’s retirement has been announced, but the available information does not say when it will take effect.

City cites nearly five decades of service

The city identified Larsen as Tulsa’s police chief and described his time in service as spanning nearly five decades. The announcement concerns the position leading the Tulsa Police Department.

The city’s statement establishes that Larsen plans to retire. It does not provide additional details about the timing of his departure in the information available from the announcement.

Leadership transition ahead

The retirement will bring a major public-safety leadership change in Tulsa. The confirmed development is the planned departure of the police chief after the lengthy period of service cited by the city.

However, the announcement does not identify a person who will replace Larsen. It also does not provide a timetable for selecting a successor, according to the available information.

As a result, the public announcement establishes that a transition is ahead without setting out its schedule or naming the next leader of the department.

What remains unspecified

The available announcement information does not specify an effective retirement date. It also does not establish whether any Tulsa Police Department policies or operations will change as part of the leadership transition.

No successor-selection deadline or other next step was specified in the available information. Further details from the City of Tulsa would be needed to determine when Larsen’s retirement becomes effective and how the city will fill the police chief position.