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A jury will soon decide if the Tulsa Police Department has systemic training failures related to excessive force. This follows a judge's ruling allowing a lawsuit to proceed to trial. The case involves a 2020 incident where Officer Aaron Russell shot at Michael Delaney's car, injuring Delaney. Delaney, who later pleaded guilty to obstructing an officer, claims his constitutional rights were violated by both the officer and the City of Tulsa.
The lawsuit, known as a Monell claim, seeks to establish liability for the municipality, not just the officer. Dan Smolen, Delaney's attorney, has been working for over a decade to prove systemic issues within the department. According to Smolen, this is the first time a judge has recommended a trial for such a claim against Tulsa.
The judge found sufficient evidence to proceed to trial, focusing on officer training for vehicle extractions and waiting for backup. A jury ruling in favor of Delaney could impact other cases involving the Tulsa Police Department. A report by Human Rights Watch cited in the complaint found that out of 1,700 reported excessive force incidents over five years, only two were deemed policy violations, with no officers disciplined.
The City of Tulsa has declined to comment on the pending litigation. The trial's outcome could have significant implications for how the department handles training and accountability in the future.