What we know: Security plans for Juneteenth Festival

We’ve been working to learn more about the security plan for the Juneteenth festival after a shooting left a man dead and several people injured.

News On 6 has been trying to contact the person listed on the application as being in charge of security at the festival, but has not heard back.

WHAT PERMIT APPLICATIONS REVEAL

Juneteenth festival organizers have to apply through the City of Tulsa to hold the event each year. In that application, they have to list how many people are expected to come and who will be in charge of security.

This year’s plan was approved by the Tulsa City Council on June 4th.

In the applications dating back to 2018, the number of people expected to go to the festival jumped from 7,000 people to 60,000 in 2025.

Donnie Johnson is listed as the point of contact for security for the last three years of the festival.

Before that, applications show a combination of off-duty Tulsa Police Officers, private security, OSU Police, and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office.

WHAT POLICE SAY

Tulsa Police Chief Dennis Larsen said at a Monday news conference that officers were nearby, but private security was in charge.

"Private security,” said Larsen. “There were officers, but. Tulsa County deputies were at Juneteenth. Our staffing that night was in the entertainment zone, which is relatively close to where Juneteenth was."

WHAT THE SHERIFF SAYS

Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado says there were two off-duty deputies who were working the Juneteenth festival for a private security company, but he was not aware of any security plans.

"I want to be clear,” said Regalado. “We were never contacted by Juneteenth or any other entity in regards to security, planning, taking part, any way shape or form."

WHAT FESTIVAL ORGANIZERS SAY

News On 6 also reached out to the organizer of the festival, who said she will not be doing any interviews at this time.

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