Police Step Up Curfew Enforcement After Death Of Two Teens

Wednesday, July 25th 2007, 9:00 pm

By: News On 6

Two children, 12-year-old Leah Fuqua and 16-year-old Deriko Ross were killed around 3 a.m. Sunday, well after Tulsaâ€™s curfew for minors. Now police are stepping up patrols in hopes of protecting more young people from the dangers that lurk in the night. Police say what happened Sunday is a tragedy, News On 6 anchor Latoya Silmon reports police hope extra patrols will prevent it from happening to any more children.

Under the night sky violence claimed the lives of a 12-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy.

â€œAs a dad it scares me to death,â€ said Tulsa Police Captain Rick Helberg. â€œI never sleep good til my boys are in. You sleep a little bit lighter until everyoneâ€™s home safe, so anytime our kids are out it's scary.â€

Captain Rick Helberg says that's why it's important to enforce a city wide curfew for minors.

â€œWe always enforce the curfew, but what we have is a JAG federal grant assistance to put some extra officers in the field to target specific problems,â€ Helberg said.

Captain Helberg says the federal grant will pay for six officers to patrol the weekends. Minors caught outside past 11 p.m. weekdays and 12 a.m. on the weekends could face a citation. Their parents face the same fate. Helberg says the price they'll have to pay is nothing compared to what could happen on the streets.

â€œTypically nothing good happens after midnight,â€ said Captain Helberg.

Police are also increasing patrols near problem area bars. It all begins this weekend.

Watch the video: Police Step Up Curfew Checks After Two Teens Killed