New Grant Helps Tulsa Police Test More Untested Sexual Assault Kits

A $2 million federal grant will pay to test more than one thousand sexual assault kits at the Tulsa Police Department. They said this funding could get more victims justice.

When the first round of funding was approved by the Department of Justice in 2018, the Tulsa Police Department had around 3,000 untested rape kits.

Lt. Darin Ehrenrich said they've sent about 800 to OKC to be tested since then and are getting more efficient by the day.

"In addition to money for testing, it's putting great personnel to carry on this work," he said.

That includes a cold case investigator, an advocate for victims and an investigator. The department is getting another $2 million that will keep funding those positions and allow the department to test about 1,700 kits over the next three years.

Lt. Ehrenrich said many of those kits weren't tested because victims declined to prosecute. It was also because victims already knew the suspect so identity wasn't in question. But now they're testing 75 kits a month.

"A lot of these offenders have offended in the past," he said.

One example is an arrest made this year of Alfred Wilson. DNA from a test matched him to a rape in Tulsa from 2003.

"That case exemplified why we're thrilled about this work."

Victims of sexual assault say this is a great step forward. Maegan Pittser is from Owasso and said she was sexually assaulted as a teenager. She said the more help for victims, the better.

"I've always heard how many kits go untested," said Meagan Pittser.

She said people need to believe victims.

"If it's not a yes, it's a no," she said. "That's what people need to learn."

TPD is working with a lot of other agencies to get help for victims. They hope by testing these kits, it could mean catching more rapists.