TULSA -- A community forum in Tulsa is focused on discussing the relationship between police and the people they serve.
The forum was titled “A Conversation with our New Mayor, G.T. Bynum on the Community-Police Relationship.”
The question and answer session lasted just under an hour.
The city’s mayor-elect answered questions and talked about how to move our city forward when it comes to the community's relationship with police.
As the city's next mayor, G.T. Bynum is tasked with helping to create trust between police and the city's minority community. During the forum, he heard about what needs to happen moving forward.
"What's more important than that is how people are feeling about law enforcement in Tulsa and their stories, as was reflected when we first started are horrendous,” said Rev. Gerald Davis with The United League For Social Action.
It's those stories-organizers hope— can make city leaders aware of race issues.
"I'm a very polite person, I'm not a trouble maker but I am an African-American, I have dreads, I have been you know pulled over and treated a certain way based on how I look,” said attendee Emeka Nnaka.
Bynum realizes change is not something that can happen overnight. But those attending the forum are hopeful the talk turns into action.
"When you are seen in the community bridging the gap i think that goes to show that we are making moves in the right direction you cannot build a bridge if you're unwilling to step on the other side,” Nnaka said.
Bynum takes office one week from today.
The city is set to hire 160 new officers to help implement his community policing plan.
The details are still being worked out.
Tulsa mayor elect @gtbynum speaking and fielding questions about how to improve community/police relations pic.twitter.com/tbYiZ6i2ig
— Brian Miller KJRH (@Brian_Miller_TV) November 29, 2016
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