Sheriff's Office Offers Free Service For Parents Attending Tulsa State Fair

With the Tulsa State Fair getting under Thursday at 5 p.m. the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office wants those attending to feel safe and be safe. During peak hours on Friday and Saturday evenings, the sheriff's office says they will have around 120 deputies patrolling the Tulsa County fairgrounds.

If you're bringing children, the sheriff's office suggests parents take advantage of a free service they offer.  The first thing parents should do when they arrive at the Tulsa State Fair is visit the sheriff's booth in the RiverSpirit Expo building or the sheriff's office command post near the Midway and get special wristbands for your children. 

Sheriff's Captain Billy McKelvey says those wristbands will include your child's name and a contact cell phone number. If you and your child get separated, he says that bright colored wristband is the first thing deputies will look for. 

If your child gets away from you, Captain McKelvey offers some advice.

"Stay close to that area. The child didn't wander very far. So as soon as you recognize the fact that you've lost you child, stay right there and look for a deputy," said TCSO Captain Billy McKelvey.

He says the deputy will get on the radio and broadcast the information and other deputies will begin a search. Since he's been working the Tulsa State Fair, Captain McKelvey says they've always found children who were lost.

Concerning crime at the Tulsa State Fair, Captain McKelvey says the biggest crime they see each year at the fair is larcenies - people stealing stuff from vendors.

9/24/2014 Related Story: Tulsa State Fair Providing Free Shuttle Rides For Fairgoers