Public safety oversight ordinance

The Terence Crutcher Foundation's data strategist urged a yes vote, citing Tulsa's fatal police encounter rate at more than double the national average, only 2% of citizen complaints sustained, and $47 million in settlements over the past year. He argued the review model adds transparency without stripping any authority from chiefs.

A retired deputy fire chief argued the ordinance bars experienced former public safety officers from serving on the board and duplicates authority the mayor already holds.

Supported the concept of oversight but asked for broader public engagement, departmental input, a financial analysis, and noted the 2026 version gives the mayor more power over the director than the 2019 draft.

Said the proposal is gaslighting the community because the board lacks subpoena power and cannot do more than give opinions.

Argued the ordinance would tie police officers' hands on split-second decisions and that the public should be urged to cooperate with police instead.

A former STOC chair and 2018 council candidate worried the oversight board would be entirely mayor-appointed, unqualified, and cost around $400,000-$500,000.

Described alleged 2024 code enforcement misconduct by an officer and ongoing problems at the Admiral Flea Market as reasons an oversight body is needed.

Cited a decade of community policing work and the Human Rights Watch report showing racial disparities in TPD use of force, saying this is about how justice is done when police don't get it right.

First-time speaker compared police oversight to other regulatory bodies like the FAA, saying risk review saves money and lives.

Described an alleged 8-officer beating of a Black teenager who asked a question and said police treatment of young people demands oversight.

A District 3 resident said self-investigation is a conflict of interest and cited the Evaluate the 918 survey showing only 33% of residents believe the city has effective oversight.

Argued Tulsa police have extensive legal protections while residents have almost none, citing 61 fatal officer-involved shootings since 2007 with only Terrence Crutcher's ruled not criminally justified, and denied open-records requests.

Described her son's fatal police shooting by Officer Ryan Bruston and begged the council to approve the oversight committee, demanding the officer be fired.

Supported the ordinance, citing ten years of debate, millions in settlements, and a 2024 Equality Indicators use-of-force score of 2 out of 100; quoted Reagan's 'trust but verify.'

Briefly supported oversight, invoking Christopher Hedges on democracy and trustworthy information, honoring Terrence Crutcher.

Executive director of Still She Rises in North Tulsa and a 17-year public defender, strongly supported the office, drawing on her experience with New York's civilian complaint review board.

A volunteer firefighter and emergency responder, supported feedback mechanisms across public safety, questioned TPD's bachelor's degree requirement, and noted the recent Tulsa Fire lawsuit over pay.

Former Hale High School dean who supported oversight, noting 48 of the 50 largest U.S. cities have some form of civilian oversight and urging the council not to postpone indefinitely.

FOP attorney who urged rejection, arguing existing DA/OSBI/FBI/CALEA oversight is sufficient, the office isn't truly independent inside city government, and the mandatory delay in discipline violates the Fire and Police Arbitration Act.

Opposed the proposal — not oversight itself, but its exclusion of the city council; said the council polices its own ethics complaints and should be included in the oversight authority.

Opposed the new office as a costly redundant bureaucracy of roughly $500,000 a year, saying the mayor and public safety commissioner should handle transparency and records instead.