Oklahoma – Governor Kevin Stitt announced that the Oklahoma Highway Patrol has completed its work in Tulsa under Operation SAFE, the state initiative aimed at restoring safety and cleanliness by clearing homeless encampments, trash, and debris from state-owned property.
Over a 14-day period, troopers cleared 64 sites and removed nearly 1.98 million pounds of debris. Stitt praised the Highway Patrol for carrying out the operation with professionalism and courtesy, while noting that city officials are now responsible for ensuring that camps are not reestablished.
“OHP completed its work in Tulsa under Operation SAFE. They completed this work with the most courtesy and professionalism,” Stitt said. “In 14 days, OHP cleared 64 sites and disposed of 1.97 million pounds of debris. Now, it is up to Mayor Nichols and Tulsa officials to ensure state and local laws are enforced and camps are not reestablished. OHP will continue to monitor state property and will return to enforce state law if necessary.”
According to the state, 1,976,705 pounds of debris were removed from state-owned property during the cleanup. OHP and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation are working with local agencies to provide safe housing and treatment options to individuals from the encampments. Officials said those who refuse assistance and continue breaking the law could face prosecution.
Stitt emphasized that while the state acted on state-owned property, long-term maintenance and enforcement on city land remains the responsibility of Tulsa leadership.
