Norman residents asked to comment on police program

NORMAN — A public forum about the future of community-oriented policing is at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Sarkeys Foundation, 530 E Main St.

Norman residents approved a temporary increase in the city’s sales tax in May 2008 to be used in part to pay for additional police officers and reinstate community-oriented policing.

For community policing to be successful, the needs of the community must be assessed and goals defined, Police Chief Phil Cotten said.

It is based on a concept that police officers and residents can work together to come up with creative ways to solve community problems, Cotten said.

The philosophy encompasses addressing crime, fear of crime, social and physical disorder and neighborhood decay, he said.

A Citizens Public Safety Oversight Committee and the police department have been working to establish a framework for the program in Norman, the police chief said.

"We want citizen input to move forward with this program and are urging residents to be a part of the process,” Cotten said.

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