Crime concerns have Turley residents up in arms

Wednesday, October 23rd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Frustrations boiled over at a community meeting this week in Turley. News on Six reporter Rick Wells talked to the Tulsa County Sheriff about Turley's problems and what can be done about them.

Unidentified Turley resident, "We pay taxes like everybody else in Tulsa County, ain't nothing happening. We ain't gettin' no bang for our buck." The level of frustration was pretty high at Tuesday night's meeting, the second one this month called to discuss problems in Turley. Most folks wanted to talk about crime.

Another Turley resident, "What I want is for my grandkids not to be scared to go outside." Most of the frustration was directed at Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz. Rick Wells, "Are you un-responsive?" Glanz, â€œI don't believe so at all." He says deputies are all over the county and it can take 10 minutes or more to respond depending where they are. And he says most of the crimes are breakin and property crimes, committed by juveniles. Rick Wells, "Does the state need a curfew to take care of areas like Turley that are un-incorporated?â€ Glanz, "Well, that's really not a bad idea. I'm a proponent of curfews for kids."

There was plenty of political clout at the meeting and several residents took advantage of the opportunity to air it out. Unidentified Turley resident, "Get some law enforcement, and some flood control and Turley will take off like a sky rocket. Not the %&*$# blight we have now." Many at the meeting acknowledged there is plenty Turley residents can do for themselves to take care of the blight.

Tulsa County Sheriffâ€™s deputy Sgt Gary Ross: â€œcouple of places of concern over here." As for the policing one of the businesses a victim of a recent break-in got a little help from the Sheriff's office. "We'll put a permanent watch order in."

Perhaps all these meetings are helpful. There is a Turley Community Association, which meets monthly and has for several years. They have a meeting coming up; if you'd like more information call the Sheriff's office.