Tulsa Black Officers Coalition embraces Mayor’s plan and calls for policing oversight committee

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By: Nate Morris, senior editor

TULSA, OK – In a letter obtained by The Black Wall Street Times, Marcus Harper, TPD Officer and President of the Tulsa Black Officers Coalition, made public his organization’s strong support of Mayor Bynum’s plans to implement the Office of the Independent Monitor.

Harper writes about the deepening concerns between Tulsa citizens calling for change within law enforcement and institutions which push against it.

“When a section of our society is telling us that there is a problem, and our response is either there is no problem or the numbers are skewed, it can become infuriating,” wrote Harper, “We are servants of the people therefore we are held accountable by the people.”

The letter details the history of the formation of civilian oversight committees across the country in response to “violent confrontations between law enforcement and people of color”.

It comes in stark contrast to a letter from the Fraternal Order of Police made public days ago which threatened legal action against the Mayor’s Office for pursuing the creation of an oversight committee this summer.

The coalition says it will “continue to support efforts for continued transparency and focus on building meaningful relationships with communities throughout the City of Tulsa.”

The letter can be read in its entirety by clicking here or on the image below.

Mayor Bynum responded to the letter in written statement to the Times, stating “As we work to establish this program [the OIM] for greater transparency and continuous improvement in a critical serve we provide our fellow Tulsans, I hope every interested stakeholder knows their thoughts on this are encouraged.”