TULSA, Okla. — Officer Aaron Russell's indictment is adding another layer to the conversation about police reform. While some say the indictment is a step forward, others say there is still a lot of work to be done.
Dr. Tiffany Crutcher, founder of the Terrence Crutcher Foundation, says she was surprised that officer Russell was indicted. While the city is moving in the right direction, she says she’s not stopping here. She continues to be frustrated over what she sees as the lack of change in policing.
READ MORE: Tulsa Co. DA: Tulsa police officer indicted for shooting man in March
“We’ve dealt with the string of officer involved shootings, not just here in Tulsa, but across this country,” Dr. Crutcher said.
She has advocated for police reform since her twin brother, Terrence Crutcher, was shot and killed by Tulsa Police nearly four years ago.
“This will be the second time in the history of Tulsa that a police officer was indicted outside of Officer Betty Shelby, the police officer who shot and killed my twin brother.”
In a news conference earlier this week, Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin says they are focusing on officer accountability.
“We've done that through internal affairs investigations. We believe that, that leads to the legitimacy of our organization,” Chief Franklin said.
Additionally, Dr. Crutcher has a message for Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum.
“Make some bold decisions. Step up, have some courage to make some bold decisions and get this done,” Dr. Crutcher said.
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