Tulsa mayor asks city to address black officers lawsuit

<br>TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ The Tulsa police department is considering a professional accreditation process that could address many concerns raised in black officers' 8-year-old racial discrimination lawsuit,

Thursday, September 19th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ The Tulsa police department is considering a professional accreditation process that could address many concerns raised in black officers' 8-year-old racial discrimination lawsuit, Mayor Bill LaFortune said Thursday.

LaFortune, giving his first State of the City Address, said he has told acting chief Charlie Jackson to explore voluntarily meeting the standards of the Commission Accreditation Law Enforcement Agency.

``This action by the city of Tulsa shows the city's good faith in seeking a solution to the problems in our police department raised by the African American community,'' LaFortune told about 500 members of the Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce.

The Black Officers Coalition sued the city in 1994, alleging blacks face a segregated work environment and are discriminated against in hiring and promotions. The lawsuit also claims black officers get no help when calling for backup and are retaliated against if they complain of discrimination.

LaFortune said the agency's accreditation requires police departments to ensure that hiring, training and promotions are all done on merit and without discrimination.

The agency also evaluates departments before renewing their accreditation, supplying the independent monitor the coalition had sought in a now-discarded settlement of the lawsuit, the mayor said.

Coalition attorney Louis Bullock rejected LaFortune's suggestion, saying voluntary accreditation would not ensure lasting changes within the department.

``The city needs to make a commitment to justice that is enforceable,'' Bullock said. ``Other promises have no credibility with my clients.''

Former Mayor Susan Savage settled the lawsuit April 1, the day LaFortune took office. He had until April 5 to approve or reject the settlement and let the deadline pass.

Last month, LaFortune withdrew his support for the settlement saying it implied the whole police force was racist, would cost millions to implement and would not resolve the lawsuit's issues.

A federal judge overseeing the case threw out the agreement, which was opposed by the police officers' union, and told the city and the coalition to prepare for a costly trial.

The Tulsa County Sheriff's Office and the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation have already met the standards, and the Oklahoma City Police Department is applying for accreditation, LaFortune said.