Violent Crimes Not Common Downtown, Tulsa Police Say

We hear people say it all the time, downtown is dangerous.

But is it?

It's a question we wanted to answer, especially the after a deadly drive-by shooting near the Convention Center Thursday night.

Police said the worst that is likely happen to you downtown is someone breaking into your car; but some still call for more police presence.

The highest tensions in Tulsa Friday night could be at the Bedlam game - OU versus OSU at Driller's Stadium.

"The police department is here when needed. People do what they're supposed to be doing," said resident Jason Moreau.

Tens of thousands of people flock to downtown on a Friday night and, for people like Ginger Hinkle, safety isn't a concern.

"No, we just parked, walked up and we've not felt endangered," she said.

Tulsa Police Officer Leland Ashley said police mostly work car burglaries downtown.

"Violent crime, as a whole, is really not what you see in downtown," he said.

There's a specific unit patrolling downtown and there are security guards at every event.

Even so, Gary Taylor thinks police should step it up.

"Look like the city may need to think about putting more patrolmen down here now. I don't think it's been a big problem though, but I don't think we want anybody to be injured down here," he said.

Downtown after dark doesn't sound so safe the night after a drive-by shooting that killed 19-year-old Cristal Guiterrez-Garza.

5/1/2015 Related Story: Jenks Graduate's Life Cut Short In Downtown Tulsa Shooting

"It appears the individuals potentially knew each other, so this wasn't someone coming downtown to enjoy themselves and became a victim of a random crime," Ashley said.

It's those random crimes that police say most people don't need to worry about during a night downtown.

Another incident that happened in downtown recently involved an off-duty Oklahoma City officer shooting a man he said he thought was beating up a woman.

1/16/2015 Related Story: Off-Duty Dept. Of Veterans Affairs Officer Involved In Fatal Tulsa Shooting

Police say that, too, was not random and people shouldn't be scared.