Justice Department Finds Oklahoma City Police Discriminate Against People With Behavioral Disabilities

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma City and its police department have discriminated against people with behavioral health disabilities, the U.S. Department of Justice said Friday after releasing the latest report on research series in state and local law enforcement agencies.

in your 45 page reportThe DOJ found that the city unnecessarily institutionalizes mentally ill adults and that the police department often escalates crisis situations by responding with armed officers instead of behavioral health professionals.

“As a result, urgent mental health needs often go unaddressed and crisis situations are unnecessarily escalated, sometimes leading to avoidable use of force,” Deputy Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.

Oklahoma City and Police Chief Ron Bacy said Thursday they were still reviewing the report.

The report said the Justice Department launched the investigation in 2022 after receiving a complaint, but did not provide further details. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to an email Friday seeking comment.

The investigation in Oklahoma is one of 12 similar investigations opened by the Justice Department since April 2021. Many have been in response to high-profile deaths at the hands of police, including George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. Other completed investigations found patterns of illegal police practices.

The DOJ concluded in its findings report that it intends to work with city and state officials to reach a resolution to its findings, but added that if a resolution cannot be reached, the agency could file a lawsuit to ensure compliance. of Americans with Disabilities requirements. Act.

In separate statements, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond and Gov. Kevin Stitt acknowledged the need to improve the state’s mental health system but criticized the Justice Department under President Joe Biden for what they characterized as overreach. federal.

“We will closely review the findings, but the Department of Justice report appears to be an attempt to bully Oklahoma into meeting undefined and ever-changing goals,” Drummond said.