A city councilor’s proposal to let Tulsans vote on whether to set up a police oversight office hit a wall Wednesday night.
The council voted 5–3 against sending Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper’s proposed charter amendment establishing an Office of the Independent Monitor to city attorneys for review, the first step in getting it on a ballot.
Councilor Crista Patrick said her constituents normally keep to themselves on city issues, but they spoke up on this one.
"I believe in the need for an independent monitor — personally. But at the end of the day, I am happy to report that more people in my district found their voice on this issue than ever before, but it’s not the voice that you guys anticipated," Patrick said.
Councilor Jeannie Cue, another potential vote for the OIM proposal, also voted against it after hearing from her constituents. Councilors Connie Dodson, Ben Kimbro and Phil Lakin also voted against it.
Councilor Cass Fahler was not at the meeting but has said he opposes it as well.
Councilors Kara Joy McKee and Lori Decter Wright supported Hall-Harper's proposal and expressed doubt the people contacting their councilors to oppose it knew all the details.
Hall-Harper said her push for an independent monitor is not anti-police — she’s married to a cop.
"And so, I know there are great officers, but I also know there are a few that are not. And if we don’t have legitimate, honest accountability when mistakes are made, then we’re never going to get to where we want to be, this world-class city," Hall-Harper said.
Hall-Harper's proposal would have established an Office of the Independent Monitor to review certain police internal investigations — including uses of force that result in a death or a complaint against an officer — and make recommendations about community policing practices.
The OIM was first proposed in January 2019 by Mayor G.T. Bynum but met stiff opposition from the police union.
Hall-Harper's proposal would have given the OIM additional powers, like the ability to subpoena witnesses and evidence if it found an internal investigation was not conducted, was mishandled or was incomplete, and to investigate any citizen complaints about police discrimination.
Hall-Harper said she’ll turn to gathering signatures to get a vote on the independent monitor. A voter initiative in the City of Tulsa needs signatures equaling 25% of the votes cast in the last general municipal election to make the ballot.
