Downtown Tulsa club security concerns

A former bouncer at Tulsa's Club Eclipse claims a racist, aggressive security staff is the reason for the frequent fights at the downtown nightspot. <br/><br/>One of the worst happened last weekend.

Tuesday, July 20th 2004, 10:19 am

By: News On 6

A former bouncer at Tulsa's Club Eclipse claims a racist, aggressive security staff is the reason for the frequent fights at the downtown nightspot.

One of the worst happened last weekend. More than five dozen police officers were called ton control the crowd.

The bouncer wants to remain anonymous. He says in his 15 years in the bar business, he's never seen the kind of problems like those at Club Eclipse. He says when breaking up fights, most bouncers try to avoid making a scene. "That's not what they're doing. They're screaming and yelling and using foul language and racial slurs and things of that nature in the club."

Club owners say they've had record crowds. They say with a 70% to 90% African American clientele, they wouldn't stay in business long if they had a racist attitude. Michael DeBoe with Club Eclipse: "If it was that big of a problem and we were that much of a racist. Why would they wrap around the building waiting to get in and pay money to do so?"

Club owners say large crowds and alcohol naturally create more problems.