(Enid, OK) The Grand Ballroom in Stride Bank Center was the scene for a Town Hall meeting that featured Mayor George Pankonin, City Manager Jerald Gilbert, and city commissioners Jerry Allen, Derwin Norwood, Jonathan Waddell and Rob Stallings. Also in the panel was Sen. Roland Pederson, Rep. Chad Caldwell, Enid Police Chief Brian O’Rourke and NAACP chapter President Lanita Norwood.
Enid saw 60 of its citizens show up to the town hall meeting to discuss everything from racial profiling, lack of investigations in to police, and the underdevelopment of the East side of town an issue that has been ongoing for citizens. The meeting lasted a total of three and a half hours.
Police Chief Brian O’Rourke spoke about actions he’s personally seen from officers, “I watched police officers taking action in totally inappropriate ways,” O’Rourke said. “It saddened me to know that my so-called fellow officers could be so callous with a human life.”
An eye opening moment during the town hall was when one resident informed the panel that when he moved to Enid, realtors instructed him “don’t live on the East side, whatever you do.”
The city has stated that they are taking steps to improve the East side of the city, including Stride Bank Center and fixing roads and sidewalks.
