Summary:

– Police now refuse to release reports involving people not arrested or charged.

– Public access counselor sided with police, prompting Oklahoma Watch to plan a lawsuit.

– Critics say transparency is vital for community trust and accountability .

A 2023 policy change is allowing Oklahoma City police to shield some police reports from public view.

In February, Oklahoma Watch filed a public records request with the Oklahoma City Police Department to gather information about a Yukon teacher confronted by vigilante predator-catchers at his home.

The interaction was livestreamed on social media. The video concluded as officers led the man out of his home and placed him in a police car. But he wasn’t arrested, and that’s where the Oklahoma City Police Department dug in

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