Northeast OKC residents meet to talk police reform
More than a year after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, and in the wake of several officer-involved shootings in Oklahoma City that also prompted protests in the streets, dozens of community members and city leaders gathered Tuesday at Pitts Park on the northeast side to discuss police reforms.
Hosted by Ward 7 Councilwoman Nikki Nice, the forum focused on recent recommendations made by 21CP Solutions, which was hired at the suggestion of the Mayor's Law Enforcement Policy Task Force and the Community Policing Working Group, to review the police department's policies and procedures, and provide insight on ways to improve.
Several members of the task force heard from residents, including Angela Hornsby, who asked for more community policing, saying officers should know the residents living in the neighborhoods they serve, including her young son.
Such relationships might prevent knee-jerk reactions from officers responding to calls, and unneces
“I’m sure none of the police are familiar with my family. I just want some investment in the community.” Angela Hornsby, who asked for more community policing, saying officers should know the residents living in the neighborhoods they serve
sary violent interactions with residents, Hornsby said.
“I’ve been in my home eight years, and I’m sure none of the police are familiar with my family,” Hornsby said. “I just want some investment in the community.”
In its recommendations, 21CP focused heavily on curbing violent interactions between police and the public, including making de-escalation a departmental value to be followed at all times, revising use-of-force policy and providing a dashboard and raw data on use of force.
The consultant made 32 initial recommendations in all.
“This is an important first step but it’s not the last step,” Assistant City Manager Kenton Tsoodle told residents Tuesday.
21CP is considering community input before finishing a final report that will go to the city council for approval.
The consultant recommends the use-of-force policy be revised to include levels of reporting and review based on severity of the force, and that officers involved in shootings should be interviewed before the end of their shift rather than the current 48-hour waiting period.
Community members, the task force and 21CP agree more local officers need crisis intervention training, and alternative responses for mental health calls should be developed.
Regarding crisis intervention training for more officers, Oklahoma City NAACP President Garland Pruitt said: “Raise the level, reduce the killing.” 21CP hopes to have a final report issued by the end of September.
Meanwhile, community members were urged to continue meeting and sharing input with elected leaders.
“If you are in this room, you are already doing more than so many people in the community,” Joshua Harris-Till, the Oklahoma leader of Young Democrats of America, told attendees.