OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) – Gov. Kevin Stitt and Oklahoma Public Safety officials are rolling out new safety standards for large events and gatherings in Oklahoma.
Stitt and Commissioner of Public Safety Tim Tipton recently announced the Secure Oklahoma N.O.W. Initiative, which officials from Stitt’s office described as a “first-of-its-kind, statewide effort to raise the standard of safety and coordination at major public events across Oklahoma.”
“Oklahoma is leading the nation in securing our communities and keeping our residents safe,” Stitt said. “My administration has focused on making Oklahoma a Top 10 state in public safety, and we’re making that happen. Whether it’s school safety, illegal immigration, or the security of our biggest public events, we are taking action to protect Oklahomans and give law enforcement the tools and support they need.”
The state’s new event safety guide was developed by the Secure Oklahoma N.O.W. Advisory Council, under the leadership of Secretary Tricia Everest and Commissioner Tim Tipton.
The safety guide will be the standard for public event security across the state, including concerts, parades, fairs and sporting events. The guide stresses proactive threat assessment, interagency communication and consistent coordination across law enforcement, fire and emergency management agencies, according to governor’s office officials.
“Oklahoma is a hub for major events—from Thunder games to statewide festivals—and we are committed to keeping every attendee safe,” Tipton said. “This initiative will ensure our agencies are working from the same playbook and that our law enforcement officers have the intelligence, training, and coordination needed to protect lives.”
The Secure Oklahoma N.O.W. Initiative’s key components are as follows:
- Oklahoma Counter Terrorism Intelligence Center: Available to conduct pre-event threat assessments statewide.
- Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security: Offers support for interagency coordination and emergency communications planning.
- Oklahoma Department of Public Safety Drone Response Team: Ready to identify and mitigate suspicious drone activity at high-attendance events.
Governor’s office officials say the initiative expands on Stitt’s broader public safety strategy by doing the following:
- ProtectOK App: A statewide reporting tool giving parents, students, and all Oklahomans a single platform to report suspicious behavior or threats.
- Adopt-A-School Program: Every Highway Patrol trooper now dedicates time each week at a local school, supporting School Resource Officers and connecting with students.
- Operation Guardian: Launched in late 2024 to address the rise in illegal immigration in Oklahoma due to federal open border policies.
- Unified Active Shooter Training: Coordinated, statewide training for law enforcement agencies to ensure a rapid, cohesive response to threats.
- School Threat Assessments: Comprehensive evaluations conducted in public and private schools across the state to strengthen safety.
Stitt called upon all police, fire and emergency management teams across Oklahoma to start implementing the best practices outlined in the Secure Oklahoma N.O.W. guide.
Find the guide here.
