February 2018 | PACT | Volume 1, Issue 1 1 The Police and Community Trust (PACT) Initiative PACT Report, 2015 - 2017 Table of Contents Introduction Introduction 1 The Inaugural 2015 PACT Forum 2 The Police and Community Trust (PACT) Initiative began in PACT Forum Contextualization 3 2014 with meetings of a small group of individuals with visions to improve effective communication and positive PACT Forum Organization 4 relations between law enforcement and citizens of PACT Forum Survey Results 5 Oklahoma City. These meetings brought together law The Inaugural 2016 PACT Summit Inititiativeenforcement agencies Report, and 2015 advocates-2017 from across Central Summit Goals and Objectives 6 Oklahoma, many understanding law-enforcement and PACT Presummit Activities 8 community relations quite differently. Though several of the PACT Summit Activities 10 initial organizing group, such as Milton Combs, Jr., Roosevelt Summit Recommendations and Milton, Jr., Chief William Citty, and Garland Pruitt, were Action Items 11 involved in community relations work for many years. One PACT Summit Progress Reports prominent case that initially brought these together was the Midwest City Police Department 13 controversial 2002 police encounter with Mr. Donald Pete. Many years later, many other Oklahomans were brought OU Health Sciences Center 17 together in light of Micheal Brown’s death in Ferguson, Oklahoma City Police Department 21 Missouri. The deaths and injuries to citizens and officers; Norman Police Department 27 growing social division; national unrest; distorted Lawton Police Department 34 perceptions; and, increased violence are the most The PACT Model compelling reasons to take proactive action in Oklahoma. Description 37 The initial core group included Oklahoma City Police Chief Advantages of Decentralization 38 William Citty; Oklahoma City Police Officers Juan “Paco” The 2018 Decentralized PACT Model Balderrama and Waylan Cubit; Garland Pruitt; Description 39 Councilwoman Christine Allen-Price; Sara Bana; Dr. Dwain Pellebon; Milton Combs, Jr.; and, Joshua Brinkley. This group Mission, Goal, and Objectives 39 developed the identity and general mission of the initiative Components of PACT Initiative 41 and worked cooperatively to address community and law PACT Protocol and Process 43 enforcement concerns related to trust. They agreed to Lawton Police Department 43 develop a sustainable model to enhance law Steps to Initiate the Decentralized enforcement/community relations, they named it the Police PACT Model 44 and Community Trust (P.A.C.T.) Model, later to become the P.A.C.T. Initiative. Second Story Headline Cont. (Introduction) 2 One important dynamic of When the first public PACT the coalition was to have a event was held (2015 PACT This progress report of the divergent, even opposing, Forum), the active Police and Community Trust stakeholders included Police (PACT) Initiative was prepared perspectives to discuss best practices in policing. This Chief representation included by Dwain Pellebon, Ph.D., LCSW group began outreach to William Citty of Oklahoma and Sara Bana. The report others in law enforcement City; Keith Humphrey of describes the three major public Norman; Brandon Clabes of events; the organization of the and the community to build a coalition of members before Midwest City; James Smith of original model; describe the the first PACT forum. PACT’s Lawton; Joe Lester of the approved PACT Action Items coalition was made up of two Cleveland County Sheriff’s resulting from the 2016 PACT Department; Garland Pruitt Summit; PACT’s mission and stakeholder groups: Law Enforcement and Non-Law of the Oklahoma City NAACP; goals; and, the 2018 Enforcement, with each Brady Henderson of ACLU Decentralized PACT model. This group working to enhance Oklahoma; and, Dr. Robert report can be a resource to not dialogue across members Powitzky of Justice and only describe the model, but it would be sufficient as a guide for and to discuss challenges Serious Mental Illness. More within their own stakeholders were recruited a law enforcement agency to membership over the following two years implement in their jurisdiction. to build the coalition. Most often the audience would leave feeling some sense of psychological relief, only to remain concerned. The Inaugural PACT Forum March 7, 2015 The 2015 PACT Forum was the first public event of the coalition. The core group discussed previous forums dealing with police/community relations in the Oklahoma City area. The consensus was that forums were typically limited in terms of both the hosts and audience. Most are held with primarily the Oklahoma City police department as the sole law enforcement representative. There have been others with the Oklahoma City police officials and Most often the audience would leave feeling some sense of community leaders, but none with a psychological relief, only to remain concerned. The steering representation of police committee worked to address these matters as the event was departments across several designed. Some members on the committee believed a large and counties. Another observation was broad forum would be unmanageable. However, in the end, the there was no observable follow-up committee decided to be bold and hold a forum with broad or methodology to apply ideas representation of both law enforcement and community which may have arose at the event. leaders. 3 P.A.C.T. Contextualization How many of you have attended forums, spoke your piece, only to think nothing will happen? (Pause) This forum is not for you to release anger P.A.C.T. Forum contextualization and go home. So, what is different about this The committee’s decisions on the events format were forum? We will video informed by understanding the voices that do not feel record and analyze heard. For some families, many citizen experiences everything you present with law enforcement have had negative outcomes. to this panel. With that Such persons would detail examples of alleged racial information these profiling; false arrest; excessive use of force; and, even panelists and others will death has changed their lives forever. The committee plan for a PACT Summit. understood that no statements of "police following There they will discuss and disagree; but, they policy" or "they reacted to protect themselves" would will attend for the be meaningful to family members with these purpose of negotiating experiences. That pain and anger is real and agreed-upon undeniable. The forum had to present itself in a recommendations manner to hear these voices. Then, there is the family toward real change. of that dedicated police officer, who loved his or her Everyone has a role in community and responsibility to protect it. When that improving relations, the officer is killed by a citizen in the line of duty, that task begins by everyone family feels just as much pain and anger. Because, like here genuinely listening the previous example, this life was also taken without to one another’s concerns just cause. Though law enforcement bears more and feelings. And if you responsibility to be accountable, they want reasonable sign up to stay informed, acknowledgment of their sacrifice and service. They (we will pass out clipboards), EVE, that is, also do not want the actions of some influence the ending violence general perception of all field officers. The law everywhere, will keep enforcement and non-law enforcement you updated on this representatives were prepared to seriously listen to progress. We hope that questions, suggestions, and concerns. They understood all can agree on why we there would be some angry and expressed emotion. are here. That understood, the initial goal was to provide a safe place and chance to be heard. 4 2015 P.A.C.T. Forum Organization The forum panel included the Police Both law enforcement and the Chiefs of Oklahoma City, Norman, community. This format also created Midwest City, and Lawton. The non- an opportunity for citizens to voice law enforcement participants were their grievances and experiences Garland Pruitt of the NAACP-OKC; directly with law enforcement leaders Brady Henderson of ACLU- instead of going through third parties Oklahoma; Rev. Justin Lindstrom of or a bureaucracy. The method was an Oklahoma Conference of Churches; open-mic of audience members Oklahoma County Sherriff’s speaking and expressing themselves Department; Oklahoma Conference with the moderator having the of Churches; and, Dr. Robert microphone. Citizens stood in line to Powitzky, Justice and Serious Mental wait a turn to speak. The panelists Illness. The target audiences were were responsible to listen and take the Black and Latino Communities notes, unless a matter had to be because the committee agreed these addressed at that moment. It was social groups have a history and stressed that panelists write down current tensions with law specific issues raised by the audience that they would be expected to enforcement. Sara Bana and Dr. Dwain4 Pellebon of Ending Violence address. One reason for this format Everywhere (EVE) coalition was to avoid a back-and-forth organized and moderated the event; exchange between two individuals as The PACT forum is designed to bring a panel looked on. It could lend to a together Law Enforcement and other single concern having agencies to hear citizen concerns, disproportionate forum time. After opinions, and demands on how to the audience spoke, the law improve law enforcement relations enforcement panelists addressed the with minority communities. Because audience with either comment or the panelists represent groups with added on input and suggestions from diverse perspectives, the expected any of the non-law enforcement results will make this forum the first panelists. The exchanges went as of its kind. Despite these differences, planned with the event being an honest speech and open minds will overall success. Surveys were done begin a process of healing, after the event to gauge overall understanding, self-reflection, and reactions and current attitudes about change for law enforcement (Figure 1). 2015 P.A.C.T.