'The First 48' Film Crew Documents Two Tulsa Murders Within 24 Hours

Homicide Sergeant Dave Walker talks about the experience of being followed around by a reality TV crew as detectives respond to two murders in 24 hours.

Sunday, July 13th 2014, 4:15 pm

By: Dee Duren

'The First 48' Film Crew Documents Two Tulsa Murders Within 24 Hours

Homicide detectives responded to two murders this weekend just as the reality show "The First 48" started filming in Tulsa. The popular crime show goes behind the scenes -- and the crime tape -- with detectives, documenting the 48 hours after a homicide investigation begins.

"We've seen it before, it's not a record by any stretch," Homicide Sgt. Dave Walker said of the two murders within 24 hours.

"We don't want to see it again tonight, but if it happens, we've got people; the team's ready to go."

7/10/2014 Related Story: A&E Reality Show To Film 'The First 48' Episodes In Tulsa

Walker told News On 6 that the TV crew started its Tulsa assignment earlier this week. Crews accompanied Tulsa detectives on Saturday morning's shooting death at an East Tulsa motel and were again on scene in West Tulsa Sunday when a man was stabbed over an alleged drug deal.

Walker said the film crew makes little difference in the way an investigation is handled.

"They stay out of our way; We're not going to do anything any differently," he said. "The ultimate goal in Tulsa is to make an arrest and solve the case, and that's what we're going to do."

Police have made an arrest in Sunday morning's murder. They arrested 38-year-old Terry Hansen for first-degree murder just a few hours after a man was found stabbed to death. They continue to search for the suspect in Saturday's fatal shooting at the Tonight Inn & Suites.

7/12/2014 Related Story: Arrest Made After Tulsa's 26th Homicide Victim Found Stabbed In Car

Walker said instead of highlighting crime in Tulsa and as a way to point out the negatives in the city, the show instead highlights just how hard investigators work to solve these cases.

Brian Anderson agrees.

“If anything, it makes our police department look good and gives an inside look at how our PD investigates and comes up with suspect information," he said.

Walker says his detectives are embracing the film crews, calling it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Tulsans and the nation to get that inside look.

He suggests, however, stay out of the way of the film crew and detectives - and resist attempting to get your 15 minutes of fame.

“The crime scene folks will not like that at all, and you will probably end up seeing a judge the next morning. So don’t do that.”