By FOX23.com News Staff
TULSA, Okla. — Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols issued an executive order on Wednesday to establish a Tulsa Domestic Violence Prevention Task Force.
“The domestic violence rates in our city are a stark reminder that we cannot wait for safety to happen by accident; we must choose to act if we want to turn things around,” stated Mayor Nichols. “To protect our families, and especially the women and children who bear the brunt of this crisis, we must choose to better understand why these rates are so high and invest boldly in the evidence-based strategies that will break the cycle. By launching this task force, we are committing the resources, coordination and community resolve required to improve outcomes and move Tulsa further toward becoming the safest big city in America.”
Tulsa County and the entire state of Oklahoma consistently rank extremely high for reported domestic violence incidents.
Through the new task force, the City plans to formally and consistently collaborate with service providers, nonprofits, law enforcement and community stakeholders who have been consistently working to address the issue.
District 7 City Councilor Lori Decter Wright stated, “Domestic violence is not confined to one part of our city or one type of household, and I hope this task force will take a close look at the murder-suicide crises we have seen in south Tulsa, as well as the high rates of strangulation and financial abuse experienced by women in our community. These are warning signs we cannot afford to miss. Tulsa must continue strengthening coordination among law enforcement, prosecutors, service providers, health professionals and community partners so survivors are believed, protected and connected to help before violence escalates.”
The mayor’s office laid out several key aspects of the executive order:
- Task Force Membership – Members of the task force will include representatives from the mayor’s office, the Tulsa Police Department, the Tulsa Health Department, the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office, family safety centers, advocacy groups, healthcare systems, legal-aid providers, housing agencies, child-welfare organizations, tribal partners and other stakeholders. It will be chaired by a mayoral appointee.
- Purpose – The task force will “assess existing programs, evaluate impact, promote collaboration, provide policy guidance, identify best-practice resources and increase community awareness and prevention efforts.”
- Promises Deliverables – The task force will be required to complete and submit a detailed report with its findings, recommendations and strategic priorities at some point within the next year.
- Support – The mayor’s office is set to provide support and full cooperation to the task force—along with other city departments—while respecting confidentiality and legal requirements.
To view the complete Domestic Violence Intervention Task Force executive order, click here.
