Oklahoma City, Okla. (KOKH) — One thing to come out of protests against police violence in Oklahoma City was the creation of the Law Enforcement Task Force.
Tuesday was the first time its more than 40 members got together in a large room at the Cox Convention Center.
No major decisions or recommendations were made at the first meeting, but members had the chance to introduce themselves and talk about how they can move forward. Members consisted of city leaders, politicians, police officers, the Fraternal Order of Police, faith leaders, and community groups like Black Lives Matter OKC.
Mayor David Holt opened the meeting, saying the group's goal is to revisit police policies on de-escalation.
“I have never in my adult life seen such a broad spectrum of people willing to have these tough conversations," Holt said. "There’s a long road ahead, but I’m very optimistic that we are on a path that is building a better city that is for all our residents."
“For me, putting a group as diverse as this that is so community involved, it gives us a chance to better listen to them and see what they want from their police department and how we can provide that feedback," said Oklahoma City Police Chief Wade Gourley after the meeting.
The task force is a result of protests in the city that showed the tension between police and members of the community.
Some members of the task force, at one point, demanded that Gourley resign. Read more at Fox 25.