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In the second episode of Bartlesville Chief Chat, Bartlesville Police Chief Tracy Roles spoke on important dates and safer driving techniques.

As temperatures warm up and you get out and about with the rest of the community, Chief Roles asks you to practice safe driving. Roles asks you to slow down and obey traffic control devices. He says the traffic control devices (i.e. stop signs and lights) are there for everyone's safety.

Chief Roles says stop means stop, and if a light turns yellow, slow down and don't plow through an intersection. He asks you to be more responsible by being mindful of your speed and by putting devices away to make Bartlesville a safer place to live.

If a call or a text can't wait, Chief Roles would advise you to pull off the road and answer the message somewhere safe. Roles says we live in a fast-paced society where everything needs to happen right now. He says we have to be responsible for our actions in a world that is moving rapidly.

Chief Roles says there is a problem wherever there is a stop sign or stop light in Bartlesville. Roles says people drive to fast, they don't turn on their turn signals, they don't stop at stop signs, and they often turn into the wrong lane. He says this issue is everywhere in Bartlesville.

There are two ways to correct this issue in Chief Roles' eyes: strict traffic enforcement and people behind the wheel being safer on the road. Chief Roles encourages the public to make their space safe because the Bartlesville Police Department (BPD) has limited resources.

Approximately 36,000 to 37,000 people live in Bartlesville. Chief Roles says the BPD only has 70 police officers, which is why they ask the public to help them maintain safety while driving. He says you can communicate with the police department if you are seeing problems in your neighborhood, too.

On Saturday, April 2, the BPD's Citizen's Police Academy is getting the opportunity to enjoy law enforcement driver's training. This will take place during the day. The program is led by Captain Troy Newell and Sergeant Andrew Ward.

The Bartlesville Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) will hold an Officer of the Year Banquet at the Bartlesville Community Center on Saturday evening. Chief Roles says it is there to honor the person that is chosen by the FOP as the 2021 Officer of the Year. He says Corporal Brad Dunkle will receive the award.

Chief Roles says Cpl. Dunkle is a great person and officer. Roles says the BPD is very fortunate to have Cpl. Dunkle. He says Cpl. Dunkle is a family man with great values, so he believes the FOP got it right.

Lastly, the Bartlesville Police Department will host a Block Party and BBQ Cook-Off on Saturday, April 23. You can find more information on that event here.

Bartlesville Chief Chat airs live on KWON AM 1400, FM 93.3, 95.1 FM and on the Bartlesville Radio Facebook page. The next episode is scheduled to air on Tuesday, April 12. Bartlesville Radio will provide an update if the episode needs to be moved.

To watch Tuesday morning's episode of Bartlesville Chief Chat, click on the video below: