Patrol towers and cameras at the State Fair
TULSA (FOX 23) - Opening night at the Tulsa State Fair and deputies have their eyes on the Midway.
This year they are increasing security for the tens of thousand of fairgoers who are expected to attend the fair over the next ten days.
This year there are extra cameras in addition to the patrol towers.
Patrol towers were deployed last year and are used in parking lots during the holiday shopping season and at college football games.
The Tulsa State Fair is considered one of the safest fairs in America.
With deputies on the ground and 25 feet above in the air overlooking the Midway, most fairgoers are on their best behavior.
“The more security the better,” said fairgoer Katie Revis.
If there’s a blind spot the other tower will catch it.
“We are switching them around and moving locations where we think it might deter more crime and where we have bigger groups of people and more outbreaks,” said Tulsa County Sheriff’s Major Shannon Clark.
Last year the towers were used on the Midway and surveillance video assisted in finding missing children and also to help break up fights before they got out of out of hand.
“If you are going to come out to the Fair and you are going to commit a crime there’s eyes in the sky,” said Clark.
Cameras are also placed at the exit gates near Kiddie Land.
“That way if anyone were to try and attempt to take a child or if a child was to walk outside that gate unexpected from those parents we can go back and look on those cameras,” said Clark.
He said the footage is saved on a hard drive.
Deputies said they do not go home until they find every missing child reported at the fair.
For the last three decades all have kids have been found safe.
“I think it’s nice. It makes you feel safe when you come out here as a family,” said fairgoer Jj Hale.
Deputies recommend if you report a missing child and you find them to report it to them so they know if the child has been found safe.
Tulsa Police Organized Gang Unit officers will be at the Fair Friday and Saturday nights to make sure violence doesn’t break out on the busier nights.
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