Is the State Fair safe?

[Keith]

I have been out to the state fair 4 times already, volunteering my time for the Oklahoma City Police Department. I am actually working as a dispatcher in the safety center, receiving calls via phone, and answering and giving calls to the officers at the fair.

So, just how bad is it?

During the day light hours, the fair is lots of fun, and the biggest problem they have are children getting lost. Nighttime is a totally different picture.

Friday evening, I was there from 9 PM until 1:30 AM., and there were three of us in the dispatch office, and we could barely keep up with everything. Many of the ones that were arrested Friday evening was for public intoxication and trying to start a fight. There were two arrested for intoxication, and for carrying illegal drugs. One was carrying a concealed weapon. The ones arrested for public drunk were taken to detox. The others were taken to the county jail.

Also, on Friday evening, they were conducting an operation of citing booth owners for selling beer to minors. They wrote citations on 21 vendors that evening. Nobody went to jail, they just received citations.

Saturday evening, I was suppose to be there from 4-9 PM., but I didn't leave until 11:30 PM. We had so many people arrested that evening, i could not keep up with the count. Drugs, knives, and guns were some of the things that were found. To add insult to injury, we received three anonymous calls from people, informing us that there was going to be a huge gang fight at the fair.

At around 10 PM., officers responded to gate 5, and "escorted" 3 dozen gang members out of the gate. They hadn't committed a crime, so they had no probable cause to arrest them.

Sunday, I was there for a while, but it was a very uneventful day, with only a few lost kids. All of the kids that were brought in to the safety center were reunited with their parents.

Parking is a major headache. There are people out there that are double parking and triple parking. It has been so bad, that wreckers have to be called to tow these illegal parkers away. Another big problem this year is auto burglaries. There have been many reported, and one was reported burglarized and stripped. The only ones watching the parking lots are the members of REACT. All of the officers stay inside the fairgrounds.

Again, this year, they have the scissor lift at the Midway. One on each end of the midway. In the evening, the officers take turns going up on the scissor lift and watching the crowds.

My suggestion? Go during the daytime and enjoy yourself. Get out by dusk, because that is when most of the crimes happen. When you park your vehicle, keep all of your possessions out of site.

The food is great. I had a pork chop sandwich last night, and it was wonderful. For $5.50, it better be good, huh?LOL

I'll be out there again tomorrow evening from 4 PM- whenever, so we will see what tomorrow brings.

[Patrick]

I really don't think the fair is any different than any other major event, whether it be a major event downtown, etc. You get a wide variety of people to any of those events.

[PUGalicious]

^ I agree.

[Easy180]

Been going for about 25 years straight now...Never been stabbed or robbed so I chalk it up as being safe enough

[SoonerDave]

I think the characterization of the night time fair as some sort of gang cavalcade is manifestly unfair. Given a scheduled, long-term event that is intended to draw large crowds, and you are inevitably going to have incidents like the ones described.

My entire family - including my wife, ten-year-old son, eight-year-old daughter and their 70-year-old grandmother, went last night (yes, on a school night) and had a *marvelous* time, staying from 5:30 until approximately 9:45. We uniformly felt secure and safe, and never *once* did we experience anything that seemed untoward, gang-related, risky, or anything of the sort. We were disappointed that the space needle was closed, however

We saw not so much as one single adverse incident of any kind, not even a drunk, and that was amid a crowd *much* larger than I expected for a Monday night. The game barkers were engaging and pleasant to the kids, the games were as "fair" as you could expect, the food booths were generally clean, and the buildings inviting (with the exception of Agtropolis, which is a hideous abomination that should be shut down and banished for all time).

The police were more than present, and I felt completely safe the entire time we were there.

-SoonerDave

[Karried]

I have to agree with the others.. I felt extremely safe on Thursday night and we stayed until approx 9pm..... in fact, there were many police officers walking around but they didn't look too worried or even all that busy for that matter.

Actually, I don't recall seeing anyone even remotely resembling a gang member ( at least what I know gang members to look like in Calif). I did see a lot of interesting characters who I hope were visiting from Arkansas and not actual residents of OK... they were scarier than any gang member I've seen! Mullets and overalls just frighten me .. LOL - just kidding.

[Dave Cook]

I've said for years if they'd stop having this thing in Oklahoma...you wouldn't have all these problems.

[bandnerd]

Stop having a state fair? Every state has a fair. For the most part, it's safe and a lot of people like it. I personally don't care for it, but if they have enough police support then I don't see why we should stop having it.

[ChristianConservative]

I don't see the appeal of the state fair. Just a gathering grounds for the low life of the city. If you don't believe me, look around at the folks out there if you go this weekend? I hope that's not a good representation of what most Okies are like.

[bandnerd]

I don't like it, it's not my scene. But a lot of people do, people of all different backgrounds and social status. A lot of my students love going to the fair. A lot of families go.

Just because you don't see the appeal doesn't mean it should be removed from our state. Again, as far as I know, most if not all states have fairs...some even have tri-state fairs, and county fairs, and they will continue to happen because a lot of people do like them, even if you don't.

[PUGalicious]

I don't see the appeal of the state fair. Just a gathering grounds for the low life of the city. If you don't believe me, look around at the folks out there if you go this weekend? I hope that's not a good representation of what most Okies are like.

Now, how would you know that unless you were there... which by your own declaration would make you...

[GrandMaMa]

I don't see the appeal of the state fair. Just a gathering grounds for the low life of the city. If you don't believe me, look around at the folks out there if you go this weekend? I hope that's not a good representation of what most Okies are like.

Out of curiosity, where are you from? I'm sure that where ever is was, it had a state fair as well. What did you mean when you said, "I hope thats not a good representation of what most Okies are like"? And what did you mean by "low life" of the city? Did you really mean anything by those statements or are you just trying to make friends here in Oklahoma?

[ChristianConservative]

Now, how would you know that unless you were there... which by your own declaration would make you...

I haven't been in years, but that's what it used to be like, and from everyone tells me, nothing has changed. If anything, I've heard it's gotten worse.

[PUGalicious]

... hearsay carries so much weight ...

[ChristianConservative]

Out of curiosity, where are you from? I'm sure that where ever is was, it had a state fair as well. What did you mean when you said, "I hope thats not a good representation of what most Okies are like"? And what did you mean by "low life" of the city? Did you really mean anything by those statements or are you just trying to make friends here in Oklahoma?

I was born and raised in Oklahoma City, a graduate of Putnam City High School and the University of Oklahoma.

By low life, I meant exactly that. Scum! Trash! Gangs! Poor folks that have nothing better to do!

[ChristianConservative]

... hearsay carries so much weight ...

Read the first part of my statement. It's obvious you failed to read my entire statement.

[PUGalicious]

By low life, I meant exactly that. Scum! Trash! Gangs! Poor folks that have nothing better to do!

You, know GrandMaMa... those people that Jesus hung out with when he was on earth...

[PUGalicious]

Read the first part of my statement. It's obvious you failed to read my entire statement.

I read your entire statement. I disregarded the part of what you perceived things to be like years ago; things could have changed, you know... that's right... you don't know... you're relying on hearsay...

[ChristianConservative]

I read your entire statement. I disregarded the part of what you perceived things to be like years ago; things could have changed, you know... that's right... you don't know... you're relying on hearsay...

Things haven't changed that much in 5 years.

[PUGalicious]

Things haven't changed that much in 5 years.

How would you know if you haven't been there?

[GrandMaMa]

You, know GrandMaMa... those people that Jesus hung out with when he was on earth...

Oh, you mean with the looooooooooong hair, sandels and those funky wraps that they wore? Oh yeah, those awful women that they visited with at the well, that kind of low life. You know what, I also heard that he hung around with a passel of young men as well, what do you think people thought about that back then, we know what they would think nowadays...either a gang member or...well, you know....:tweeted:

[ChristianConservative]

How would you know if you haven't been there?

I just stated that I was there 5 years ago. Do you have a vision problem, or something?

[PUGalicious]

I mean -- let me spell it out for you -- how do you know things haven't changed in the last five years if you haven't been there?

[ChristianConservative]

I mean -- let me spell it out for you -- how do you know things haven't changed in the last five years if you haven't been there?

Let's just say I sit on the State Fair Board.

[PUGalicious]

You want us to take your word for it?

And if we do, who is more accountable for the state of the fair than those on the State Fair Board? So you gripe about that which you should be responsible for?