Tulsa Police Department Chief Wendell Franklin will assume his role as the new director of corporate security for BOK Financial when he leaves the force later this year. Franklin has officially resigned from TPD and will take his post at BOK Financial on September 1, 2024. As director of corporate security, Franklin will oversee BOK Financial's safety and security initiatives.

His responsibilities will include developing corporate security strategies aligned with company objectives, managing emergency response, monitoring security systems, providing training and ensuring compliance with legal regulations. Additionally, he will collaborate with local and federal law enforcement agencies, and partner closely with the Emergency Operations Center and Fraud Prevention and Detection. Franklin rose through the ranks of the Tulsa PD, joining as an officer in 1997 and being named chief in early 2020.

He is a graduate of Langston University with a degree in criminal justice and corrections. He is also a graduate of PERF's Senior Management Institute for Police, and an alumnus of the FBI National Academy and the FBI National Executive institute. He is actively involved with the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police, Major Cities Chiefs Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police and National Public Safety Partnership.

He also serves on the boards of the Tulsa Historical Society, Boy Scouts of America and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Society.