Settlement Reached In OCPD Lawsuit On Booking Policy

A settlement between Canadian and Cleveland counties with the Oklahoma City Police Department said officers will now transfer people they arrest to the detention center of the county where the arrest was made.

Because Oklahoma City extends into Cleveland and Canadian County, Oklahoma City police patrol in those areas.

Canadian County District Judge Jack McCurdy said the problem isn't where they patrol, but where the arrestees end up.

“We were concerned that people were sitting over in Oklahoma County longer than they would've sat in our jail and being able to post bond and they were sitting there longer than is constitutionally permissible for them to see a judge and have either a bond set or an initial appearance done,” McCurdy said.

He said they've been going back and forth with Oklahoma City police for years regarding where they transport folks arrested.

“According to the Oklahoma City Police Department they say it was more efficient they had better equipment for which to conduct their investigation and their booking procedures if they took them to their jail with their equipment and the space that there officers were familiar with,” McCurdy said.

McCurdy said although their equipment is nicer their officers can accomplish the same thing at all detention centers.

In April of 2020 both Cleveland and Canadian counties, filed an administrative order for how inmates were being transported during the pandemic.

“We obviously double the risk of exposure to our jail inmates that were already here by the persons being arrested being taken to another facility first where we have no idea what the COVID outbreak might be,” McCurdy said.  

After nearly a year long legal battle, this settlement was finally reached.