Behind all the fun and games are close watchers who make sure everything runs smoothly at the Tulsa State Fair.
There is a heavy security presence in case an emergency arises. there’s a heavy presence in case of an emergency. There are guards, firefighters, police, and deputies.
T.P.D. monitors the fair’s perimeter, while sheriff’s deputies are on the inside making rounds.
Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office Captain, Scott Dean, says, “As populations at the fair have grown, the need for a uniform presence has grown increasingly every year.”
More than a million people stop by, within the 11-day fair span.
“Anytime you have that high concentration of people in an enclosed space, something normal in any other setting would be more concerning in this setting.”
On weekdays, there are about 30-40 deputies at the fair. The count goes up to 50-70 on weekends.
“It’s the fair. People come to have a good time, enjoy their time out here; and we want to facilitate that any way we can.”
They patrol by foot and by cart.
“One of the things we pride ourselves on is you can’t walk up the midway very far without seeing someone in uniform.”
They also scan social media for any possible threats. So far, there are no major incidents online nor on fairgrounds.
