CNA, a nationally-accredited 21st century policing firm, has named the four co-researchers to help facilitate their plan to advance community policing within the Tulsa Police Department.
Working with the firm’s project team, co-researchers will dedicate at least 10-15 hours a month to the project, participate in virtual meetings, identify community stakeholders for feedback, give input and help conduct focus groups and interviews with community members. The final recommendation and evaluation will be completed in the Fall of 2021.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to work with CNA and bring the community to the table in the research process. The community co-researchers will assist us in evaluating TPD’s past progress, recommend future steps, and help build an action plan by engaging the whole community in the process,” said Capt. Shellie Seibert. “We are committed to giving a voice and listening to the people we serve. I look forward to seeing what we can build together. This will be our blueprint.”
The final four candidates were chosen from 75 applicants and were interviewed by the institute.
“Over the last few years, priorities have changed in society and here in Tulsa. We need to make sure our community policing model is consistent with the needs of our community,” Chief Wendell Franklin said. “These co-researchers are local – they are your friends and neighbors, who will listen to your concerns and help us build solutions for the future.”
Obum Ukabam spent the last 20 years focused on developing under-represented communities. He is the creator and co-author of "Reflections," a one-act play centered around the 1921 Black Wall Street Massacre and hosted a virtual town hall last year called "Running While Black." Also, in 2020, he helped secure a national Booz Allen Foundation grant for "The Art of Us," a program that supports 50 students with hands-on virtual learning through an art-based, social-emotional competency infused curriculum. He currently serves on the boards of Leadership Tulsa and Theatre Tulsa. Obum holds a degree in Corporate Communication with a minor in African Studies from Central Missouri State University.
T'erra Estes' focus is equipping families, children, and professionals experiencing adversity, crisis, and trauma with behavioral health resources. Estes founded the non-profit organization, Teach Not Punish (TNP) Family Resource Center, to influence positive behavioral change in schools, homes, and the community. She also has a background in early childhood and special education. Currently, she supports adult students as an instructor/employment specialist for Tulsa Technology Center by providing academic and employment readiness training.
Tyler White moved to Tulsa in 2014 as a Teach for America corps member. As a teacher, he taught high school science at Central and McLain high schools. After serving in Teach for America, he was the Youth at Heart program coordinator at Walt Whitman Elementary School. Currently, he serves as the positive school climate coordinator for Tulsa Public Schools. Tyler has completed local leadership and community development programs including Lead North, Leadership Tulsa (Class 59), and the Community & Police Leadership Collaborative.
Jennifer Solis is committed to disrupting inequity and injustice systems, especially at the intersections of disability, LGBTQ+ Lives, faith, and education. As a graduate of Tulsa Memorial High School, Solis holds a bachelor's degree in Religion from the University of Tulsa and a master’s degree in Education (Special Education) from the University of Central Oklahoma. They have served as a special education teacher and church youth director in a variety of settings.
Community co-researchers will receive training and technical assistance from the firm’s project team.
The Tulsa Police Department has created a webpage, https://tulsapolicenews.org, where you can track the community policing evaluation progress and receive more information on community policing in Tulsa. There will also be frequent updates on TPD’s social media channels.
Background
In March 2017, community members, law enforcement and city officials released the Findings and Recommendations of the Tulsa Commission on Community Policing, which outlined 77 specific recommendations for the Tulsa Police Department (TPD) to help build trust and legitimacy, improve policy and oversight, reduce crime and provide specific initiatives to help with training, technology and officer wellness. To further that work, in 2019, Mayor Bynum proposed the creation of the Office of the Independent Monitor (OIM) to focus on three key areas remaining in the recommendations - oversight, community outreach and policy.
With an OIM not in place as of FY20, Mayor Bynum proposed using a portion of the OIM funding originally allocated in the FY20 budget to continue the momentum for community policing by issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to have outside experts conduct community policing evaluation and planning. The City of Tulsa required respondents to utilize the community based participatory action research model, which actively engages community members and organizations who have a personalized knowledge of the needs, concerns, and strategies impacting them as co-researchers.
About CNA
CNA is a nonprofit research and analysis organization dedicated to the safety and security of the nation. It operates the Institute for Public Research — which serves civilian government agencies — and the Center for Naval Analyses, the Department of the Navy's federally funded research and development center (FFRDC). CNA is dedicated to developing actionable solutions to complex problems of national importance. With nearly 700 scientists, analysts and professional staff, CNA takes a real-world approach to gathering data, working side-by-side with operators and decision-makers around the world.
Based in Arlington, VA, CNA leads and guides numerous agencies nationwide in implementing 21st century policing best practices and has extensive community engagement experience evidenced by their work in Chicago, Albuquerque, and multiple other U.S. cities.
Within IPR, CNA's Center for Justice Research and Innovation (JRI) is committed to working with police and community-based agencies on the assessment, implementation, evaluation, and sustainment of organizational and system-wide improvements. JRI delivers high quality and objective assessments, building on our tested and proven work over the past 75 years of CNA's history.
CNA’s approach is data-driven, customizable to a local agency’s needs, and collaborative, combining subject matter experts with experienced analysts who work directly with practitioners to identify, analyze, and solve problems related to specific organizational, operational, and topical issues. For more information on CNA's criminal justice work, visit: https://www.cna.org/centers/ipr/jri/.
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