Some OCU police department officers were found to have not been wearing masks on duty.
Some students have interacted with OCUPD officers who approached them without wearing a mask. In response, Student Government Association created a resolution encouraging officers to wear masks correctly. When asked about mask requirements, Dexter Nelson, OCUPD police chief, said he was unaware some of his officers were not following the university’s mask protocol and has since sent a message instructing officers to follow proper COVID-19 safety protocols.
Dane Drennan, music theater junior, said he was pulled over late at night next to the Wanda L. Bass School of Music and the officer who approached his car wasn’t wearing a mask.
“The first thing I noticed when he walked up to my window was that he didn’t have a mask on, and I was just taken aback because it’s OCU, you know, and I feel like we have all done a really good job so far of following protocol, and it’s been working and we’re still in person. So, I was just taken aback, and I think I visibly scooched away in my seat a bit because he was right at my window,” he said.
Drennan said he didn’t ask the officer to put on a mask because he was nervous.
“The interaction was fine. It didn’t end badly or anything, but he was just extremely close in the window, and I didn’t want to say anything because, especially now with everything with police officers going on, I’m not trying to back-talk to a police officer,” he said.
Drennan said police officers not wearing masks worried him because they are supposed to protect the campus and wearing a mask is basic protection during a pandemic.
Drennan said he told his roommate, Ethan Drezner, design and production sophomore, about the interaction, and Drezner said he had a similar experience.
Drezner said he parked his car outside of the Gold Star Memorial Building last semester while he quickly dropped something off inside the building. He said he saw an officer walk up to his car, and since he wasn’t in a real parking spot, Drezner said he would move it.
“He stopped me and started coming up to me, and his mask was below his nose just barely covering his mouth, and he kept coming towards me and I kept stepping back because, you know, ‘six feet apart,’” Drezner said. “He kept saying ‘don’t walk away from me, don’t walk away from me,’ but I was like, ‘no, just keep your distance.’ It was like the attitude he had was like he was trying to get me to listen to him, and I was like, ‘I am listening, but you’re not listening to the rules we have in place.’ It was just kind of uncomfortable.”
Delaney Schneider, mass communications sophomore, said she was in the car with a friend when they were pulled over. Schneider said they didn’t ask the officer to put on a mask to avoid confrontation. She said she doesn’t understand why the officer wasn’t wearing a mask.
“If you’re hired to protect students in Oklahoma City University community, why would you not wear that mask for that precaution,” she said. “Even if you’ve already had COVID-19 or had the vaccine, it’s like peace of mind. The police are people we want to be able to rely on, so when they don’t do it, it makes it kind of uncomfortable to want to bring it up, or just to even approach them.”
Dexter Nelson, OCUPD police chief, said all OCUPD officers are required to wear masks, and he didn’t know some officers were disregarding protocol.
“Our policy is the same as the university. We’re bound by the university’s policies, and we’re also bound by the policies and procedures outside of the university for police personnel,” he said.
Nelson said he and his lieutenant had not received any reports from students of his officers not wearing masks or wearing masks incorrectly on duty. After inquiring, he said two of his officers confessed they had not been wearing one.
“So, when I hear those things about my officers not doing something they’re supposed to or not adhering to policy, I look into it,” he said. “So today I sent out a message and asked if they’re aware some officers aren’t wearing their masks and that we’ve got some complaints, and ironically enough, two officers admitted that, yeah, they hadn’t been wearing them. And they gave a reason as to why they haven’t been wearing one, and the reason that they gave was not acceptable to me. So, I just sent out a message to everyone telling them that all officers are to abide by all university policy, rules and procedures in addition to all of their law enforcement policy, rules and procedures.”
Nelson said if an officer is not wearing a mask, students can either say something to the officer if they feel comfortable doing so, or they can call the OCUPD non-emergency number at 405-208-5001 and report the situation to a supervisor or dispatcher. Nelson said giving the date and time of the incident helps him identify the officer.
“What we need to know that helps us pinpoint it is the date and time so I can go back and see who’s working,” he said. “We don’t have that many officers. I’m in the process right now of trying to get more officers; I’m not comfortable with the amount we do have, which isn’t enough. But with the date and time, even when I was in Oklahoma City and had 265 people, if you gave me the date and time, I could pinpoint it.”
Emma Vance, economics freshman and SGA Freshman At-Large, said she created Resolution 001 calling upon OCUPD to wear proper face masks in accordance with CDC guidelines when on duty at OCU. The resolution was passed by the Senate on Feb. 24, and Vance, SGA President Reid Powell and SGA Vice President Brittany Wyatt will be meeting with Nelson soon to discuss the resolution.
Vance said she encountered officers on two different occasions who were wearing masks, but wearing them incorrectly not covering their nose or under their chin.
“I just felt like that was something that needed to be addressed, I wanted to draw attention to it so everyone can be held accountable,” she said.
Vance said it’s important OCUPD officers set an example for the campus community.
“The police officers are supposed to be setting the example and enforcing the rules, and if they aren’t following rules properly, who says anyone else will?” she said. “I think it’s just very important our police officers are following the same rules as everyone else and holding everyone accountable, including themselves.”
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