Ponca City Police Chief issues press release ahead of planned protest

Ponca City’s Chief of Police, Don M. Bohon, issued the following press release in regards to a protest that is planned for Monday, June 8th.

As many of our citizens have heard, there is a protest planned for Monday in Ponca City. I have had open communication with an organizer of this protest, and the organizers are planning for, and intend to have a peaceful protest. The Ponca City Police Department and the City of Ponca City fully support the right of our citizens to assemble and protest. We believe that our citizens who wish to protest will maintain peace in the effort to express their concerns, and they will not tolerate those who seek to disrupt the effort they are making by acting out or encouraging violence and criminal behavior. The men and women of the Ponca City Police Department stand ready to serve this community and protect the protestors, and the community as a whole.

The protest is set for Monday June 8^th and will begin at noon. Protestors will gather near the area of 5^th and Overbrook, and will march to City Hall, where they will hold a rally. For a time period as needed, 5^th street will be blocked to maintain safety from traffic issues, and Grand Avenue will be blocked between 5^th and 6^th Street during the protest. If these are routes you would usually take during this time, you will need to find an alternate route that day, or be prepared for some delay.