| Updated: 10/17/2012 9:27 am |
Published: 10/16/2012 8:29 pm
|
Areas of South Tulsa are safer after enforcement efforts tracked down dozens of Tulsa’s most wanted.
Over three weeks, a violent crimes task force in the Tulsa Police Riverside Division targeted high crime areas in south and west Tulsa as well as midtown.
The day started with a briefing.
"There are some tips from last week's home invasion,” said Sergeant Kurt Dodd.
A woman and her granddaughter were held hostage for two hours on a Friday. The family was forced to drive their captors to a bank to withdraw cash.
"Now they are getting bolder,” said Officer Dean Montgomery.
However, they’re also getting arrested.
"We are getting out and doing traffic stops and pedestrian stops," said Officer Jennifer Tate.
She, Montgomery and four other officers are also on the street collecting information to make south Tulsa safer.
"We find warrants, we find the guns. Guns, dope and gangs are the biggest driving force behind this violence,” said Montgomery.
In three and half weeks, the six officers put 43 suspected violent criminals in cuffs and targeted more than a 100 misdemeanor warrants.
"I guess they are trying to protect and serve and I am trying to stay out of their way," said Freddie Hayes.
He was stopped for traffic warrants.
"Having a presence to combat these crimes,” said Sergeant Kurt Dodd.
The task force is getting some of Tulsa’s most wanted, such as 33-year old William Holt, behind bars.
"He was a driving force behind a lot of the shootings," said Montgomery.
After Holt’s arrest, his car was torched but officers said other suspects have been put on notice.
"Some of the people he hung out with are not in the neighborhood anymore,” said Montgomery.
However, there are more to go after near 61st and S. Peoria.
Officers from the Riverside Division stopped suspects Rashad Booker and Altony Harbert in a drive by shooting. Jail records show the pair have bonded out.
Task force officers are also working with homicide detectives to catch accused murderers. They helped detectives arrest homicide suspects Reginald Girod, 20, and Matthew Stick, 20.
"The task force has been able to focus in on those types of things and are not distracted on the everyday call load that is going on," said Dodd.
The latest round up is part of TPD Riverside Division Major Julie Harris’ mission along with Police Chief Chuck Jordan to make some long time dangerous neighborhoods livable again.
The task force isn’t done and officers will continue to hit the streets.
