CALLS PERSIST: Several Tulsans ask council for police monitor
Feb 25, 2026
Listening to Tulsans, 2 News microphone was on the podium, with the Tulsa city council microphone, as citizens proposed amendments to the charter.During the Feb. 25 council meeting, twenty-two people addressed the council, most
of whom were calling for the establishment of an independent police monitor.WATCH: CALLS PERSIST: Several Tulsans ask council for police monitor CALLS PERSIST: Several Tulsans ask council for police monitorAs we go through the charter amendment season, and as we go through the budget discussions, from April through June, we want the citizens to stay engaged. I think more people should stay engaged in this process, Councilor Christian Bengel said.Jamaal Dyer, a Tulsa pastor, asked the council to start the process of adopting an OIM.Tulsa must implement a strong office of independnet monitor, through a charter amendment, because we have the duty to protect Tulsans, from police misconduct, and to protect taxpayers, from paying the price for a broken system, Dyer said.CALLS BEGAN AT THE LAST MEETING >>> 8 Tulsans asked for the establishment of an OIMWednesday night was the second of four public hearings, scheduled for charter amendments. 2 News Oklahoma listened to the last one, where every citizen who spoke called for the establishment of an OIM.HOW DO CHARTER AMENDMENTS BECOME REALITY?- The city charter is basically the citys constitution. The process of changing it is similar to changing the U.S. Constitution. It starts at the city council, where councilors can pass a measure and send it to the vote of Tulsans.- The voting public has the final say in creating or denying an amendment.The council goes through this process regularly, and calls for the OIM are always at the center, according to Bengel.I think this is probably the one where Ive heard the most input from the public. Some of these are repeat people that have come and spoken before, and some are new, Bengel said.Brian Turner also asked the council to adopt an OIM.We can be the safest city in the U.S., through the adoption of this charter amendment. I earnestly implore the council to adopt this charter amendment, Turner said.When 2 News Oklahoma spoke with Jeff Downs, president of the Tulsa Fraternal Order of Police, he pointed to the departments standing with CALEA, a national police standards agency.We just recently got re-certified in that, and so in essence, its kind of an oversight to make sure were up to the modern standards on our law enforcement, Downs said during a Feb. 12 interview.The council is planning two more hearings for charter suggestions. The council is scheduled to meet next on March 4 at 5 p.m.Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere -- 2 News Oklahoma on your schedule | Download on your TV, watch for free. How to watch on your streaming device Download our free app for Apple, Android and Kindle devices. Like us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram Watch LIVE 24/7 on YouTube
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