Community Outreach

The U.S. Attorney’s Office believes that community engagement is a fundamental part of our comprehensive approach to preventing and fighting crime, enhancing public safety, and improving the quality of life in the Northern District. 
The U.S. Attorney's Office connects with stakeholders to better understand and identify public safety concerns while 
enhancing community trust.

Mayor’s Police and Community Coalition (MPACC)

The MPACC is an advisory committee composed of representatives from law enforcement, including the United States Attorney’s Office, government, business, religion, advocacy organizations, ethnic groups, and community leaders throughout Tulsa.  
The MPACC meets every two months to address issues affecting police, community relations, and to develop best practices to enhance trust.  It facilitates communication between police and the community by identifying issues of public interest, providing education, and facilitating collaborative solutions. The MPACC endeavors to generate community interest and involvement in crime prevention.  It also seeks to foster a better public understanding of police, including police policies, responsibilities, 
and practices.

The Chief of the Tulsa Police Department is a featured speaker at each meeting, and Hannibal Johnson, noted Tulsa author and attorney, serves as the facilitator.  Special guest speakers and presenters have included the United States Attorney, the Commissioner of Public Safety, state senators, the Chief of Police for Tulsa Public Schools, the Greenwood Cultural Center, the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice, and the Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry.  The MPACC sponsors police ride-a-longs and an annual youth forum that brings students from Tulsa public high schools together at tables with Tulsa police officers for a day of dialogue and interaction.

The Eastside Council or Safe Neighborhoods (ECSN)

The ECSN brings together the Tulsa Police Department, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, the Tulsa Fire Department, the Broken Arrow Police Department, the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office to meet with social and business organizations from Hispanic and Spanish-speaking communities in east Tulsa. The Mayor’s office and U.S. Representative Kevin Hern’s office also participate.  The group gathers for a luncheon on the last Thursday of each month, discusses issues, plans events, and presents educational speakers.  The group also sponsors four community events throughout the year involving food, music, games, prizes, police and firefighter vehicle tours, and booths with educational materials from various law enforcement, public safety, and social service agencies.  The goal is to build relationships of trust and understanding between the communities and law enforcement, and to promote collaboration between law enforcement and the community in fighting crime and enhancing public safety.

The Broken Arrow Police Department’s Citizen Police Academy

Representatives from the United States Attorney’s Office regularly present at sessions of the Citizen’s Police Academy (CPA), the Master Citizen’s Police Academy (MCPA), and the Spanish Language Citizen’s Police Academy (SLCPA).  The CPA and SLCPA consist of an 11-week series of classes. The goal of the CPA is to educate the public and provide a better understanding of how law enforcement functions and operates.

Instruction consists of lectures, demonstrations, tours, and hands-on training.  The hands-on portion of the classes includes 
mock traffic stops, building searches, field testing of drugs, and other activities that will put the student in the shoes of an officer.  Prosecutors also make presentations and conduct mock court activities to give students a practical idea of how the justice system functions. Some of the mock activities include patrol tactics, jail tours, crisis negotiations, K-9 units, and simulated grand 
jury duty.

The goal of this academy is to broaden and deepen the citizens’ perspectives on law enforcement topics.  By giving a 
“behind the scenes” look at police work and the justice system, citizens gain valuable information and experience that equip them to better understand local and national law enforcement issues.  Graduates of the CPA can enroll in the 8-week MCPA for 
continuing education.