PEGASUS Program Bridges Gap To Fight Crime In Tulsa County

Dan Bewley and Terry Hood, News On 6

TULSA COUNTY -- The Tulsa County Sheriff's Office is launching a new program it says will help solve crimes faster. Pegasus is a national program that links law enforcement agencies to each other.

Fighting crime on TV is as easy as the touch of a button, but this is actually far from reality.

Corporal Jeff Organ is one of dozens of Tulsa County Sheriff's deputies. He says one of the biggest challenges they face is communicating with other law enforcement agencies.

"All of the departments in Tulsa County are not on the same radio frequency just because it wouldn't be practical to have that many cars using the same frequency," said Corporal Jeff Organ, Tulsa County Sheriff's Office.

Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz announced Wednesday that his office is taking part in a national program to bring agencies together.

11/16/2010 Related Story: Tulsa County Sheriff's Office To Change How It Shares Information

"Consolidation of records, I think, is very important, and on the national level I think it's even more important," said Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz.

Pegasus works like an Internet search engine that lets officers in the field learn right away if someone has a warrant out or if they're suspected in a crime.

"It's going to allow us to communicate better in law enforcement and solve a lot more crimes," Glanz said.

The Tulsa County Sheriff's Office is the first Oklahoma agency to begin using Pegasus, but Sheriff Glanz has been talking with other agencies, like Bixby Police and the Oklahoma County Sheriff, about getting involved. He thinks it's only a matter of time.

"I think everybody, once they have the equipment to do it, will jump on board," said Sheriff Glanz.

Deputies are excited about the program as well; they say it's just one more tool to help them keep the public safe.

PEGASUS also gives local investigators access to FBI and Homeland Security reports. The Sheriff's office spent $60,000 to install the equipment in 100 vehicles.