The findings in this assessment should be interpreted alongside context about the demographics of local residents, the demographics of sworn officers, and the department’s work toward racial equity. This section contains information on departmental initiatives related to equitable policing practices and police-community relations that was input directly by the department through a survey. Norman Police Department submitted its responses to the context survey on October 29, 2020.
Norman, OK 2021
DEPARTMENTAL CONTEXT
RESIDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
The population of Norman, Oklahoma is 72% White, 8% Latinx, 6.9% Multiple Racial Groups, 4.8% Asian, 4.7% Black, 3.6% Native, and 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. The total population of Norman, Oklahoma is 120,710.
These city demographics were taken from Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 2018 five-year estimates. The “Other” category, if applicable, matches the Census Bureau’s definition of “Other” racial group. See the Data Notes tab for information on how CPE defines racial groups.
OFFICER DEMOGRAPHICS
These demographics were provided by the department as of October 2020.
ABOUT THIS ASSESSMENT
Norman Police Department (NPD) joined CPE’s National Justice Database project in July 2018. NPD shared data with CPE in order to receive analyses intended to support community and law enforcement collaboration on data-informed efforts to enhance equity in public safety. This assessment analyzes use of force data from 2016-2020.
DEPARTMENT SUMMARY OF ITS KEY INITIATIVES
NPD has recently updated its policies on stops (including vehicle and/or pedestrian stops), use of force, data collection, data quality assurance. The department has also implemented new training programs, programs to elicit community input on department policies/practices, and programs to reduce use of force or promote equity or community trust.
DEPARTMENT SUMMARY OF ITS RACIAL EQUITY INITIATIVES
In 2016, under Chief Keith Humphrey, NPD first incorporated recommendations from The President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing into the department’s strategic planning. These recommendations offer best practices on how policing practices can reduce crime and build public trust. They are unified under six specific main topics (‘pillars’) with associated recommendations and action items, providing a roadmap for the department as they work to provide services equitably.
One of NPD’s first initiatives was to build legitimacy and trust. The department changed their existing policy manual to an adaptation of Lexipol model policies to ensure compliance with federal and state laws as well as national best practices. This transition helps to inform their ongoing accreditation through the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police, and additionally, they have posted policies online since 2016. Later that same year, NPD started participating in the Police Data Initiative by releasing six general datasets online for independent review and analysis: City/Department Demographics, Uses of Force, Complaints and Inquiries, Contacts, Community Engagement Efforts, and Hate Crimes. NPD started posting data in 2017 and continue to update the datasets regularly, and are still the only agency in Oklahoma to make this information available to the public. NPD focused on policy and oversight in 2018 when the department partnered with the Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service, and a local advocacy group, to develop the Norman Citizen Advisory Board. This self-sustaining board reviews internal investigations, makes policy and training recommendations, and conducts community listening sessions. They are facilitated by the department’s Internal Affairs personnel and provide their input directly to the Chief of Police. NPD also started a partnership with the Center for Policing Equity in an attempt to share data for analysis. The department is in the early stages of modifying their systems and processes to provide information that can show the impacts of its efforts on marginalized and vulnerable members of the community. In 2019, NPD instituted a new annual strategic planning process that includes public review and discussion that is hosted by the Xenia Institute for Social Justice. Kevin Foster was promoted to Chief in late 2019, and NPD continues to build partnerships and programs. This year, NPD established an internal Diversity Committee to advise the chief of police on policy concerns and educates members of the department and the community regarding issues of equality in policing. NPD continues to host a Citizen’s Police Academy, Coffee with a Cop, National Night Out, and other community-based partnerships. Their youth-focused partnerships, including Safety Town, Loveworks Leadership Camp, and the Police Athletics League, continue to have waiting lists for participation. And, the department has expanded outreach to include representation in the Norman Human Rights Commission, PFLAG, Unidos, and Homeless Outreach programs. Finally, NPD has also established a research agreement with the Knee Institute (of the University of Oklahoma School of Social Work) to develop and assess data related to the department’s policing activities in an effort to address the complex problems confronting modern policing in America.
DEPARTMENT SUMMARY OF ITS COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVES
NPD has a long history of policy/program updates and community outreach. Since organizational transformation is one of the three keys of the COP philosophy, the department strives to grow as the community’s needs and expectations evolve. Change efforts are communicated with members of the community both formally and informally. Informally, officers are assigned to geographic beats where community interactions are incorporated into their standard daily activities. They are expected to identify problems and seek community input constantly. NPD finds that no amount of centralized effort can be successful without infusing this expectation throughout the department. It is also the single most difficult system to maintain given the difficulty in quantifying, and assessing, the success of these interactions. Formally, NPD’s Public Information Officer communicates program changes daily using press releases and social media. NPD’s COP office coordinates constantly with community partners through various committees, boards, initiatives, and philanthropic activities. Executive Staff (in addition to their contacts with civic stakeholders, religious leaders, and inclusive partners) use Coffee with a Cop, the Norman Citizen’s Advisory Board, and the City’s Public Safety Sales Tax Committee to share ideas on progress. NPD continues to pursue diversity training focused on racial/gender bias, procedural justice, hate crime, biased-based calls for service, and de-escalation (using the Critical Decision-Making model from ICAT). Along with its Center for Policing Equity partnership, NPD also looks forward to increased community interaction through their Diversity Committee, an updated Annual Report, and new interactive analytical software for its Police Data Initiative information.
