Tulsa City Council is now formally considering ordinances to set up a police oversight office proposed by Mayor G.T. Bynum in January.
The Office of the Independent Monitor would review Tulsa Police internal affairs investigations and notify the chief if they don’t follow policy. Bynum said while that function gets all the attention, the OIM and its citizen oversight board would also bring community concerns about policing to officials.
"We want it to be something where folks can engage with the leadership of our department and with those who are helping guide that leadership on a routine basis, and this — both the citizen oversight board and the independent monitor — would provide for that," Bynum said.
The OIM would issue an annual report on its work and recommendations. An 11-member citizen oversight board would produce its own annual report assessing the OIM and its work. The oversight board would also hold more than a dozen public meetings each year.
Tulsa Fraternal Order of Police Chairman Jerad Lindsey said unlike the process a few years ago to implement body cameras, police have not been at the table for talks about the independent monitor.
"We have some serious concerns, and not all of those concerns have been answered. Everything from increased legal liability, attorney-client privilege, things like that, that go through an internal affairs investigation, because these have real consequences for us and we’re still apprehensive," Lindsey said.
The FOP has threatened to file a grievance over the OIM, saying it's subject to contractual negotiations.
City Councilor Kara Joy McKee said the only pushback she’s heard is from the FOP and individual officers tell her they’re being misrepresented.
"The officers that I’m talking to are supportive of this. They want that extra level of protection and advocacy to the community, saying, 'Hey, we’re doing this right. These officers are out here protecting you,'" McKee said.
Lindsey and FOP President Mark Secrist said 90 percent of TPD officers are among their 1,300 members.
"So, we represent the Tulsa Police officers that work out there," Lindsey said.
"We’re elected to make those decisions for our membership," Secrist said.
No councilors said Wednesday they oppose the plan, but Councilors Jeannie Cue, Cass Fahler and Connie Dodson want next week’s vote delayed so they can tell constituents about it.
