TULSA — Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum announced a contract between the City of Tulsa and a nationally accredited 21st Century Policing firm to develop steps to help advance the community policing in Tulsa.
In 2017, city and community officials along with law enforcement released a report called the Findings and Recommendations of the Tulsa Commission on Community Policing.
The document outline 77 specific recommendations for the Tulsa Police Department to help build trust within the community, reduce crime, improve policy and oversight, provide initiatives to help with training, technology and officer wellness.
In 2019, Bynum proposed the Office of the Independent Monitor (OIM) to help by focusing on the last three key areas in the recommendation: policy, oversight and community outreach.
With no OIM in place, Bynum proposed continuing the community policing by issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP). This request would have outside experts conduct community policing planning and evaluations.
When we developed our community policing recommendations in 2017, it was a starting point for empowering citizens and officers to work together in making our city safer. One of the values we’ve instilled at the City of Tulsa is continuous improvement. We recognize the need to both evaluate our progress as it relates to community policing and also to involve citizens and officers in developing the plan that will guide our strategies over the next several years. I am excited for us to begin that collaborative process.
After a thorough scoring and interview process, the city picked CNA, out of four firms that responded, because of their extensive experience with bringing residents and law enforcement to implement 21st century policing practices.
CNA, based in Arlington, Virginia, helps numerous agencies in Chicago, Albuquerque, and multiple other cities in the United States, implement best practices and community engagement.
CNA Project Director, and Tulsa native, Hildy Saizow attended Booker T. Washington High School and said she's excited to lead this critical effort in her home town.
This is an important step forward, to ask for an assessment of community policing, and to do it as a partnership between objective researchers and Tulsa community members who know the issues best. We look forward to working in the city of Tulsa to support and strengthen police-community collaboration, which ultimately will improve public safety.
The work is expected to begin in fall 2020.
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