Online Youth Forum Works To Build Trust Between Police, Community

Teenagers across Tulsa had the opportunity to talk to police officers and ask questions on Friday.

It was part of the Mayor's Police and Community Coalition, which was formed to build trust in the community. This was the 11th year for the event, but this year it was held virtually because of the pandemic.

Friday morning, about 100 teens and adults from different high schools joined in a Zoom call to hear presentations from Tulsa Police and engage with officers.

Members of the Mayors Police and Community Coalition, or MPACC, said the goal is teach students that officers are real people. They also want to teach kids reasons for police stops and how to interact with officers if they're pulled over or stopped. They also talked to students about how to avoid gang involvement and not getting involved in drugs.

Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin said his department is really focusing on collaborative policing right now, where everyone in the community comes to the table to discuss ideas and issues.

"It's important to know that your police officers, the men and women in uniform are just simple people just like you,” said Franklin. “They are tasked with doing a job, one of the best difficult jobs particularly today in America."

Chief Franklin also encouraged students to take a ride along with a police officer when that program starts up again.