Settlement Approved In Tulsa Police Discrimination Lawsuit

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- A Tulsa federal court judge has approved a settlement in a 16-year-old racial discrimination case against the City of Tulsa.

Federal Judge Terrence Kern approved a settlement agreement Wednesday morning that ends a consent decree that required court oversight of some Tulsa Police Department practices.

Read The Agreement

"We set out to not just change things for black officers, but to change the culture of the police department," Officer Tyrone Lynn, Plaintiff's Representative, said. "And we believe that's changed a lot, we think that's helped black officers and white officers and think that it's impacted the community."

The agreement ends the judicial oversight, but requires the Tulsa Police Department to install video cameras in every patrol car and create term limits for officers in specialty units, such as homicide detectives, who would have to change jobs after 15 years.

The Fraternal Order of Police promises a court fight over that issue.

"If that time passes, the officer must be removed from the position. We think it's wrong," said Jim Moore, FOP Attorney. "We think it ought to be based on performance, how well the officer is doing, but for some reason, the city entered into this agreement."

The Fraternal Order of Police, which was not a party to the original lawsuit, objected to the agreement on the staffing, arguing it violates the collective bargaining agreement with the city. The FOP believes it will diminish expertise in specialty units, especially homicide, where tenure can help solve crimes.

11/29/2009 Related Story: Term Limits On The Table For Tulsa Police Officers

Attorneys for the plaintiffs say the cameras will provide additional accountability of officers and the staffing changes will result in more rapid turnover in assignments at the Tulsa Police Department, allowing all officers greater opportunity to seek new assignments.

The installation of cameras will come at the expense of property tax rates in the City of Tulsa. Because the cameras will be part of a judicial settlement, the city will pay for it by tapping the sinking fund, which comes from property taxes.

The full cost of the work is not known, but the city of Tulsa expects it to be several million dollars.

Acting Mayor Terry Simonson signed the deal, while Mayor Bartlett is out of town.

"Well after 16 years and millions and millions of taxpayer dollars spent, it was time to bring this to a conclusion,"  Terry Simonson, Acting Tulsa Mayor said.  "The City did comply with the consent decree, I think that was the essence of the judge's determination today and with the settlement agreement, we're finally past this chapter, this history in the Tulsa Police Department and hopefully we're moving forward to a better future."