Journalist: Shelby Tannehill (OSU)
In March 2025, a police officer in Savanna, Oklahoma was found guilty of sexual assault
and obstruction of justice for raping a young woman after performing a traffic stop in November
of 2022. This case was cited by Senator Plane (TU) Thursday afternoon as she presented her bill,
Senate Bill No. TU-005. The bill passed the Senate this afternoon unanimously.
The bill, also known as the “Ban Police Sexual Violence” Act of 2025, would create new
law requiring that law enforcement officers accused of sexual assault be investigated by the
Oklahoma State Buerea of Investigation, not their home agency. An emergency clause was
written into the bill because, as Sen. Plane put it, “emergency would ensure justice.” However, as
the senator assures, this bill will not affect court cases currently in the system.
Aside from adding new law, this bill would also amend statutes already on the books. The
bill would specify that TU-005 would only apply to the accused if they committed the crime
while acting in their authority as an officer. The bill also adds that if a sexual assault case
involved any public employee, not just limited to law enforcement officers, any element of
consent would not be considered due to the aspect of authority and the possibility of coercion.
“A person cannot consent in police custody, period.” Sen. Plane said during author’s explanation.
The bill passed by a unanimous voice vote this afternoon, and now must pass in the
House of Representatives, which could happen as soon as tomorrow. If the bill passes the house,
it will head to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.