Oklahoma City Law Enforcement Policy Task Force Announced

Press release from the City of Oklahoma City:

July 1, 2020

Mayor David Holt announced the creation of a Law Enforcement Policy Task Force in Oklahoma City, following up on his previous commitment made in response to community concerns about current law enforcement policies. Ward 7 Councilwoman Nikki Nice also consulted on the membership of the task force.

Mayor Holt is asking the task force to revisit and revise the Police Department’s de-escalation policy. It will also revisit and revise the structure in place designed to provide credible and independent accountability back to the community, a responsibility currently belonging to the Police Department’s Citizens Advisory Board.

The task force may also consider other policies if it’s necessary to accomplish improvement in the two priority areas. The task force will recommend changes to the City Council and the City Manager for potential adoption.

The task force’s work is in addition to the law enforcement reforms unanimously adopted as priorities by the Council in a resolution authored by Ward 2 Councilman James Cooper.

Serving as special advisor and facilitator for the task force is M.T. Berry, retired Police Chief and Assistant City Manager.

The members of the Law Enforcement Policy Task Force are:

• Ward 7 Councilwoman Nikki Nice
• Ward 2 Councilman James Cooper
• Ward 4 Councilman Todd Stone
• Ward 8 Councilman Mark Stonecipher
• State Sen. George Young
• State Sen. Michael Brooks-Jimenez
• State Rep. Ajay Pittman
• State Rep. Jason Lowe
• Sarah Adams-Cornell
• Kitti Asberry
• Darla Cheek
• Kendra Clements
• Pastor Lee Cooper
• Rodney Cox
• Joanne Davis
• Rev. T. Sheri Dickerson
• Chaya Fletcher
• Raul Font
• Grace Franklin
• City Manager Craig Freeman
• OKC Fraternal Order of Police President John George
• Police Chief Wade Gourley
• Joshua Harris-Till
• Joshua Higginbotham
• Reggie Hines
• Rachel Hollis
• Pastor Major Jemison
• Bishop Ed Konieczny
• Jon Middendorf
• OCU Police Chief Dexter Nelson
• Sgt. Mark Nelson
• Millicent Newton-Embry
• Deputy Police Chief Paco Balderrama
• Garland Pruitt
• Pastor J.A. Reed
• Lee Roland
• Tim Tardibono
• Nate Tarver
• Donna Thompson
• Valerie Thompson
• Gloria Torres
• Assistant City Manager Kenny Tsoodle
• Gary Woods

This press release was produced by the City of Oklahoma City. The views expressed here are the author’s own.