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In its 45-page report, the DOJ found the city unnecessarily
institutionalizes adults with mental illness and that the police
department often escalates crisis situations by responding with
armed officers instead of with behavioral health professionals.
“As a result, urgent mental health needs often go unaddressed
and crisis situations are needlessly escalated, sometimes
leading to avoidable use of force,” Assistant Attorney General
Kristen Clarke of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division said in a
statement.
Oklahoma City and police Chief Ron Bacy both said Thursday they
were still reviewing the report.
The report said the DOJ launched the investigation in 2022 after
receiving a complaint but did not provide further details. The
agency, through a spokesperson, declined to comment further.
The probe in Oklahoma is one of 12 similar investigations opened
by the DOJ 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 all 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 their
findings but added that if a resolution couldn't be reached, the
agency could file a lawsuit to ensure compliance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act.
In separate statements, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner
Drummond and Gov. Kevin Stitt acknowledged the need for
improvements to the state's mental health system but were
critical of the DOJ under President Joe Biden for what they
characterized as federal overreach.
"We will closely review the findings, but the DOJ report appears
to be an attempt to bully Oklahoma into compliance with
ever-changing and undefined targets,” Drummond said.
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