Okmulgee County Takes Proactive Approach To Fighting Crime

By Chris Wright, The News On 6

OKMULGEE COUNTY -- The Okmulgee County Sheriff's Office is trying to change it approach to fighting crime.

The sheriff's office recently launched 'crime deterrent patrols.' 

The idea is to prevent crimes from happening, instead of simply responding to them after the fact.

As an Okmulgee County Sheriff's deputy, Robert Heath covers a lot of ground.  He and 14 other sheriff's deputies patrol over 800 square miles. 

As development continues to push south from Tulsa County, the sheriff's office says it has more to worry about.  

While the crime rate hasn't skyrocketed, Okmulgee County is taking steps it believes will prevent that from eventually happening.

"Our main focus is actually to be proactive and get out and make the stops and patrol the county," said Deputy Robert Heath. 

Being proactive meant the formation of crime deterrent directed patrols. 

Deputies like Heath, and others from the department's special operations team and Investigations Unit, began the deterrent patrols last week. 

"The criminals know eventually that Okmulgee County is not a place for you to do burglaries and commit your crimes," said Deputy Robert Heath. 

Okmulgee County residents were, for the most part, behaving themselves Tuesday afternoon.  There were some speeders. "Hey how ya doing? You have your driver's license or insurance? Stopped you for your speed," said Deputy Heath. 

And sheriff's deputies were unable to find a man recently that they were trying to serve a felony warrant to. 

The sheriff's office says these patrols are making an immediate impact and hope they send a message to those who think no one is watching out in Okmulgee County.

"We want to make sure our crime rate stays low, and the best way for us to do that is being proactive. Letting these criminals know we're out there," said Deputy Robert Heath. 

The Okmulgee County Sheriff's Office says the strategy has already paid dividends. Deputies have happened upon several crimes in progress while out on these patrols.