Governor Stitt, Public Safety Officials Roll Out New Standard of Safety for Large Events and Gatherings

On June 05, 2025, Governor Kevin Stitt and Commissioner of Public Safety Tim Tipton announced the Secure Oklahoma N.O.W. Initiative-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,” said Governor Stitt. “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 Secure Oklahoma N.O.W. Advisory Council, under the leadership of Secretary Tricia Everest and Commissioner Tim Tipton, developed a comprehensive event safety guide to serve as the statewide standard for public event security—including concerts, parades, fairs, and sporting events. The guide emphasizes proactive threat assessment, interagency communication, and consistent coordination across law enforcement, fire, and emergency management agencies.

Today we're saying, “Not On Our Watch,” signaling Oklahoma’s unwavering commitment to prevention, readiness, and coordination.

“Oklahoma is a hub for major events—from Thunder games to statewide festivals—and we are committed to keeping every attendee safe,” said Commissioner Tipton. “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.”

Key components of the Secure Oklahoma N.O.W. Initiative include:

• 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.

The launch of Secure Oklahoma N.O.W. builds on Governor Stitt’s broader public safety strategy:

• 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.

Governor Stitt is encouraging all police, fire, and emergency management teams across Oklahoma to begin implementing the best practices outlined in the Secure Oklahoma N.O.W. guide. 

Find the guide HERE.