Rep. Monroe Nichols

OKLAHOMA CITY — State Rep. Monroe Nichols, D-Tulsa, today released the following statement after two pieces of vital police reform legislation failed to receive a hearing in a House Committee.

House Bill 2420 gives broad authority to the Oklahoma Attorney General to investigate uses of deadly force. The bill would also require the Attorney General to produce a written report on all instigations into the use of deadly force and create a Police Practices Unit within the Attorney General’s office to review policing policies and provide recommendations for improvement.

House Bill 2431 directs the Oklahoma Attorney General to keep a database on disciplinary actions taken against police officers for misconduct. The database could then be accessed by law enforcement agencies making hiring decisions.

“These bills would not impose one new requirement for law enforcement agencies across the state,” said State Rep. Monroe Nichols, D-Tulsa. “House Bills 2420 and 2431 are transparency bills that put authority to investigate uses of deadly force in the hands of the state’s top law enforcement officer. These bills are huge steps in the right direction for both police and members of the community. Last summer there was interest in taking steps to improve law enforcement, but it is clear that interest was not genuine. These bills are in no way an attack on law enforcement, but the refusal to take action on them is a slap in the face to communities across the state who just want transparency and accountability.”