The Owasso Police Department In Oklahoma Scrubs Social Media Posts Featuring Racial Stereotypes About Black People Prior To Advertising Blood Drive

The Owasso Police Department in Oklahoma has faced significant criticism for posting content on social media that perpetuated racial stereotypes to promote a community blood drive. Situated about 14 miles north of Tulsa, the department shared two now-deleted posts on its official Facebook account on July 30.One post displayed an event poster next to a pair of white hands forming the Bloods gang sign, with a caption urging community members to donate blood. The second, posted less than two weeks later, featured an image from the animated series “South Park,” accompanied by a caption using slang related to gang culture. Community backlash was immediate, with local pastor Chaz Glover condemning the posts as “deeply racist and offensive.” Dr. Tamecca Rogers emphasized that such representations erode trust between the community and law enforcement. After the uproar, the department issued an apology before providing a more formal statement declaring the posts did not reflect the agency's values and announcing an investigation into the matter. (Photos: KJRH/Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Facebook page)