Muskogee Police, Residents Tackle Tough Issues To Improve Community

Muskogee police and community organizations came together Monday night to let neighbors tackle difficult issues like race relations and economic inequality.

One neighbor said the whole point of having the meetings is to get people out of their bubbles or their circles and start a conversation - conversations that are difficult and uncomfortable for many to have in public.

"We're not going to solve all of our problems in one 10-minute conversation, but what we do hope to do is begin having conversations," they said.

The conversations they talked about were regarding race relations, poverty and education.

Action In Muskogee's Safe & Secure program, along with the Community Police Action Board, held the monthly meeting to get neighbors talking about the issues facing their communities.

Muskogee resident Oscar Ray said, "I think the forum’s major focus is to sit down with people who don't think like we do and to hear their perspective, because, if we're not listening to another there's no way to solve the problem."

Ray has lived in Muskogee for over two decades and said the city is focused on getting neighbors together.

"We have a great mayor, we have a great city council and we are people that truly believe in their hearts that, ‘Okay, let's make our city better based on how we view each other from the inside out,’" he said.

Police also made sure to hear concerns and get involved.

"This is part talking about it and putting action into play," said Officer Jeramie Garcia. “It opens up that line of communication between the public and the people presenting these things and the community can ask whatever they want to."

Ray hopes people can break from their circles and join the conversation to move the community forward.

"I think that's the most important part right now - what are the questions, what are the things that people want to ask that they're not asking," he said.

The City of Muskogee tries to hold the meetings every couple of months in different neighborhoods.