TULSA, Okla. -- As the Tulsa Police Department faces hiring challenges, some residents are worried about safety.
This follows an overnight shooting in north Tulsa. Those that live nearby say this type of thing continues to happen.
"We don't see them all the time. Every once in a while we do see them and it makes us feel good. There are a lot of elderly people that have been in their homes a long time. And there are a lot of children out here," Edwina Taylor said.
Taylor said she runs to thank officers when they are in the neighborhood, but said often there are long stretches without a patrol car in sight.
"Sometimes we just think forget about it. They're not going to do nothing, no way. You know, why bother? Why go through all this? They may do something right here and then. But then after a while they're not going to do nothing. It kind of feels like we're on our own sometimes," Taylor said.
Tulsa police said the reason could be because the department has decreased the amount of beats from 54 to 45. Now officers are responsible for larger areas.
"Whenever we do get into the neighborhoods nowadays more than likely they're on a call for service. That's not what it needs to be. People don't need to see the police during the bad times. They need to see us during good times too," Sgt. Shane Tuell said.
The department is aiming to hire 90 new officers this year, but they haven't been able to fill the positions because of the pay.
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