FROM CHIEF GOURLEY. YEAH, AND HE SAYS HE WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD BY THIS NEW LAW AND SAYS HIS DEPARTMENT WASN’T CONSULTED WHILE THE LEGISLATION WAS BEING DRAFTED OR PASSED HERE AT THE STATE CAPITOL. BUT TODAY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL GETTING HER DRUMMOND STANDING BEHIND HOUSE BILL 4156, WE STRUGGLE RIGHT NOW GETTING PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY MAY BE UNDOCUMENTED, THAT TO REPORT CRIMES AND THEY’RE HEAVILY VICTIMIZED BECAUSE AS CRIMINALS KNOW THAT OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE CHIEF RED GURLEY SAYS THAT WAS HIS NUMBER ONE CONCERN WITH HOUSE BILL 4156, A BILL SIGNED INTO LAW LAST WEEK THAT ENABLES LAW ENFORCEMENT TO CHECK IMMIGRATION STATUS WHEN INVESTIGATING A CRIME. WE’RE ALL VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT AND HOW WE’RE GOING TO ENFORCE THIS. THE DEMAND IT’S GOING TO PUT ON OUR PERSONNEL. SO HOW DO YOU DO IT WITHOUT RACIALLY PROFILING, ESPECIALLY THE WAY THE LAW IS WRITTEN? GURLEY, ECHOING CONCERNS SHARED BY STATE DEMOCRATS WHO OPPOSED THE BILL SINCE IT WAS FILED, LIKE SENATOR MICHAEL BROOKS-JIMENEZ. I’M FRUSTRATED THAT THAT UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS BUILDING ARE PUTTING POLITICS AHEAD OF PEOPLE AND POLITICS AHEAD OF GOOD POLICY. A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE HOUSE SPEAKER, CHARLES MCCALL, WHO AUTHORED THE BILL, REFERRED US TO THE GOVERNOR, WHO OFFERED NO NEW COMMENT TODAY. THE SENATE PRO TEM, THE BILL’S SENATE COAUTHOR, ALSO NOT PROVIDING ANYTHING NEW. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE ISSUING THIS STATEMENT TO KOCO FIVE, SAYING IN PART, THE LAW IS NECESSARY TO CRACK DOWN ON ILLICIT MARIJUANA, GROWS AND OTHER CRIMINAL ENTERPRISES AND THAT HE TRUSTS SHERIFFS AND POLICE TO ENFORCE NEW LAW WITHOUT VIOLATING THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF U.S. CITIZENS AND UNLESS THIS LAW GETS TIED UP IN THE COURTS, IT’S SET TO GO, IN EFFECT, GO INTO EFFECT HERE IN OKLAHOMA ON JULY 1ST, REPORTING LIVE AT T
OCPD chief says new immigration law will deter victims from reporting crimes
OKC police Chief Wade Gourley criticizes the newly signed immigration law, citing concerns over enforcement and potential racial profiling.
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Updated: 5:26 PM CDT May 8, 2024
Oklahoma City police Chief Wade Gourley criticized a controversial immigration law that was signed into law last week, expressing concerns about its enforcement and potential for racial profiling| MORE | OKC police chief expresses concerns about House Bill 4156"We struggle right now getting people that are in those communities that might be undocumented to report crimes, and they’re heavily victimized because criminals know that," Gourley said during a live interview with KOCO.Gourley said that was his biggest concern with House Bill 4156, which allows law enforcement to check immigration status when investigating a crime. "We’re all very concerned about it, how we’re going to enforce this. The demand it’s going to put on our personnel. How do you do it without racially profiling, especially the way the law is written?" Gourley said.His concerns echoed those of state Democrats who have opposed the bill since it was filed, including those of state Sen. Michael Brooks-Jimenez."I’m frustrated that unfortunately some of the people in this building are putting politics in front of people and politics ahead of good policy," Brooks-Jimenez, a Democrat from Oklahoma City, said. A spokesperson for House Speaker Charles McCall, who authored the bill, referred KOCO to the governor who offered no new comment Wednesday. Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, the bill's Senate author, also did not provide any new information.The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office issued a statement to KOCO, defending the law as a necessary measure to crack down on illicit marijuana grows and other criminal enterprises. "Attorney General Drummond trusts our police forces and sheriffs’ offices to enforce the new law without violating the Constitutional rights of U.S. citizens. While he respects Chief Gourley’s concerns, AG Drummond has been clear that HB 4156 is necessary to crack down on the illicit marijuana grows and other criminal enterprises that often are fueled by illegal foreign nationals. Racial profiling already is strictly prohibited by law," Phil Bacharach, the director of communications for Attorney General Gentner Drummond, said in a statement. Unless the law gets tied up in the courts, it is set to go into effect on July 1.Top Headlines Driver arrested after allegedly hitting, killing pedestrian near downtown Oklahoma City Tuttle family sees extensive property damage from 90 mph winds Monday night Person taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after stabbing in southeast OKC, police say Deadly Barnsdall tornado gets preliminary EF4 rating, search continues for missing man: What we know Luis Miranda Jr. reflects on giving, the arts and his son Lin-Manuel in new memoir
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City police Chief Wade Gourley criticized a controversial immigration law that was signed into law last week, expressing concerns about its enforcement and potential for racial profiling
| MORE | OKC police chief expresses concerns about House Bill 4156
"We struggle right now getting people that are in those communities that might be undocumented to report crimes, and they’re heavily victimized because criminals know that," Gourley said during a live interview with KOCO.
Gourley said that was his biggest concern with House Bill 4156, which allows law enforcement to check immigration status when investigating a crime.
"We’re all very concerned about it, how we’re going to enforce this. The demand it’s going to put on our personnel. How do you do it without racially profiling, especially the way the law is written?" Gourley said.
His concerns echoed those of state Democrats who have opposed the bill since it was filed, including those of state Sen. Michael Brooks-Jimenez.
"I’m frustrated that unfortunately some of the people in this building are putting politics in front of people and politics ahead of good policy," Brooks-Jimenez, a Democrat from Oklahoma City, said.
A spokesperson for House Speaker Charles McCall, who authored the bill, referred KOCO to the governor who offered no new comment Wednesday. Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, the bill's Senate author, also did not provide any new information.
The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office issued a statement to KOCO, defending the law as a necessary measure to crack down on illicit marijuana grows and other criminal enterprises.
"Attorney General Drummond trusts our police forces and sheriffs’ offices to enforce the new law without violating the Constitutional rights of U.S. citizens. While he respects Chief Gourley’s concerns, AG Drummond has been clear that HB 4156 is necessary to crack down on the illicit marijuana grows and other criminal enterprises that often are fueled by illegal foreign nationals. Racial profiling already is strictly prohibited by law," Phil Bacharach, the director of communications for Attorney General Gentner Drummond, said in a statement.
Unless the law gets tied up in the courts, it is set to go into effect on July 1.
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