TULSA, Okla. — Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan officially announced his retirement on Friday.
"This is a very bittersweet decision I had to make,” Jordan said.
Jordan has been in law enforcement for 40 years. When reflecting back, he said while some things have changed, others are still similar to when he started back in 1969.
“There are some complaints being made that are valid," he said. "There are some concerns being made about our justice system that are very valid. And I think we have to remember that just because we don’t agree with the loudest people who are making ridiculous complaints we don’t just brush off the other people. We have to listen.”
Jordan was appointed to the role in 2010 amid layoffs and a federal corruption investigation. He said, even with a difficult road ahead, he knew he had the right people around him to get the department through.
“To be a good leader you gotta have the consent of the people you lead and they have to be as passionate as you are. And I’m lucky enough to have that," he said.
Early Friday, he attended his final Police Academy graduation as chief. In his speech, he encouraged the new officers to always do their duty. He said he hopes they continue one of his biggest initiatives: building trust.
“Community outreach. Community policing," said Major Ryan Perkins, TPD training director. "And training these officers that it’s more than putting people in jail every day. It’s really about creating those partnerships where we can do even more with the community’s help. And chuck has always been a big proponent of that.”
While a bittersweet moment, Jordan said he’s confident in the future of Tulsa Police.
“People have said to me, ‘Well you could still do this for a few more years.' But, you know, I’m going to miss it then just as much as I am now. And I just think it’s kind of my time," Jordan said.
Jordan’s last day is Feb. 1.
Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum will appoint the next chief, but it is not known when or who that will be.
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