Local leaders protest city of Tulsa's contract with A&E show 'Live PD'
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) -- Is the nationally televised show "Live PD" damaging Tulsa's image? Several local leaders voiced their opposition Monday during a protest outside City Hall.
It was a clear message.
“We want an immediate end to 'Live PD,'" said City Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper.
It's a television show that city leaders in Tulsa consider racist.
The group held the protest, demanding the city end their contract with the show that was recently renewed.
“I stand with my community today, with the people here today, to demand better," said Hall-Harper.
“For it to be done for entertainment value, it's incredibly disheartening," said Greg Robinson.
Councilor Hall-Harper, Representative Regina Goodwin, and others sent a letter with more than 200 signatures to Mayor Bynum Friday concerning the show, saying it profits at the expense of the community.
This protest comes days after Mayor Bynum held several town meetings where speakers called for him to end the contract with "Live PD" and the city, but Hall-Harper says the mayor stands behind the show.
“The mayor refused the community’s request to end 'Live PD,'" said Hall-Harper.
Former Tulsa Police Chief Drew Diamond was also on hand today.
He says this is not a new discussion; he dealt with something similar in the late ’80s when the show "Cops" wanted to film in Tulsa.
“I was the chief then. They came to Tulsa. I said, 'no,' turns out, I was the only police chief in the country that said no. I said no for all the reasons that we just explained," said Diamond.
We reached out to the Tulsa Police Department, but they declined to comment.
However, the Tulsa Fraternal Order of Police sent us a statement, saying in part:
Live PD is another vehicle of transparency...that gives viewers a real, unedited first hand look of calls our officers go on daily.
The city of Tulsa also declined to comment today.
The group protesting also brought up the search for a new police chief.
In their letter, they have requested the city look outside the state and not just within the department.
