City of OKC

Recommendation No. 14:

The City should allow the Citizens Advisory Board (CAB) to report publicly on its activities and recommendations.

The City should allow the CAB to report publicly on its activities and recommendations concerning policing policies, procedures, and rules, as well as changes to the department’s procedure for receiving, investigating, and reviewing “citizen” complaints.

Project Status: 90% Implemented

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Project Details from Consultant Report

Currently, the CAB “[m]ay not release any written or oral report of any board activity to any individual or body other than to the Chief of Police or the Office of the City Manager. The C.A.B. Chairman may issue a press release utilizing appropriate legal guidance and notice to the non-voting member of the board.” This language is overly restrictive and is in conflict with the CAB’s mission to be a liaison with the community and help guide updates to policy and procedure.

While preserving confidentiality of personnel or individual investigations is important, best practice would be to encourage the CAB to report on its activities to include summary statistics, thematic issues, and “comments, suggestions and recommendations to the chief of police on department policy, procedure and rules,” “comments, suggestions and recommendations to the chief of police regarding the department's procedure for receiving, investigating and reviewing citizen complaints” and results of community forums. The CAB should be a focal point for community engagement and discussion about policing issues and any language that unnecessarily curtails their ability to be open and candid is counterproductive. As the CAB is primarily an advisory board, its true power is that of the bully pulpit in which it makes its recommendations publicly known and calls on the City and OKCPD to explain why they won’t accept recommendations.