How is the crime in Oklahoma City? (Tulsa: apartment, to rent)

[shorts in the summer]

I am an Okc Police Officer and have been for 7 years. I grew up on the "Southside", 104th and Penn area. My station is on the mid north area and I work in the inner south part.
Here is the deal, it is all how you see it, based on your perceptive. Crime here is bad, but what is bad? Murders, drugs, rapes,.....they happen everywhere and are committed by people of all races and levels of society. Patrolling the streets I would say I am busy every night. I work until 2 a.m. and deal with mostly non English speaking individuals, so I am not just hanging out at the On Cue. The city is broken up into its 4 main parts, NW,SW,NE, and SE. After that, you could even go further inner NW, inner SW..so on and so forth. For the races in those 4 sections: NW...a mix of everything, White, Black, Asian, and Hispanic, SW....mostly White and Hispanic, NE....mostly Black, and SE....White, Black, Hispanic.
I am not going to be racist but conclusive from what I have seen growing up here versus other cities and working all parts of the city. "Northsiders" label all of Southside as little Mexico and poor when in fact the Southside has the largest of the metro's Hispanic population but the majority live between 16th st on the North to 59th st on the South. The highest median income zipcode is on the South side (73170). Most of the South part of OKC is in the Moore school system (from 82nd st to the Norman border) which confuses some into thinking that this area is all Moore. While this happens most "Southsiders" label the North as snobs and xxsholes. This is just the from the old rival between the two sides. The NE side of town is different from most of the city. It is sparse in retail and chain grocery/restaurants. Most restaurants are locally owned. Lots of crime/shootings, but is considerably "safer" than 15 years ago. SE has Tinker and that brings transition. People moving in and out combined with low cost housing always is a recipe for crime.
I have lived in California and Texas, visited Chicago and Miami....it is all about perception. Example, in Oklahoma, when you buy a house, it comes with an air conditioner, heater, sometimes appliances, a yard maybe, garage and hopefully closet space...you might pay 150k and get a nice place. You might not find any of those "luxuries" in other states and those people are used to buying houses without them......PERCEPTION.
I have had good times and bad, comes with the job and for me the job would be the same in any city...well maybe not Mayberry. Thanks

[shorts in the summer]

forgot to add....
Diverse and open minded is not what I would label OKC..... a little better in Norman but still Oklahoma. When I lived in California I dated a girl of color and I think I would be worried about her safety here. People say they are open minded but the Gay community lives mostly in the same proximity around the NW 39th area.
Also if you ask most people that are parents if they would let their daughter date a black man what do you think the answer is. I do agree with the poster that wrote about the feverent George Bush is the greatest idea...I see it everyday..but Okies are changing....I hope it is a belief and not just a fad.

[okcsouthsider]

I have lived in Oklahoma City for 18 years now. I own a business that works with people relocating to okc or moving from okc. One thing I always ask people moving here is why are you leaving New York or LA or any other exciting city to move to the sticks and they always say the same thing. Oklahoma is so much cheaper to live in AND the people in okc are so friendly. The customers that i work with usually choose to come to okc for the enviroment and usually only move away because of jobs. I have always been shocked to hear this from people from other states, but after 15 years. i am guessing it must be true.

Now, as far as racial or religious discrimination goes, i think most of okc really doesn't care if you are white, black, asian, or gay, but there does seem to be alot of prejiduce against hispanics. Oklahoma even passed an illegal immigration law just for the hispanic community. likewise, they dont call this the buckle on the bible belt for nothing, although there are other religions, most non baptists learn not to mention their religious beliefs in mixed crowds to avoid the whole who is going to hell speech.

Crime in OKC is a mixed bag. i have lived all over the inner city and the only time i have ever been robbed was in an upscale suburb called quail creek in the far nw of the city. mostly it is pretty safe but crime can happen anywhere in any city so you always have to be aware( we do have a few bad areas, but not as bad as the bad areas off other major cities)

do i like living in OKC???

absolutely. the people are mostly friendly, it is cheap to live here, it is convienient to travel to anywhere in the country with our central location, its a big city without being too big

PS....to answer a few questions, no most people in okc have never even been on a horse, let alone a covered wagon, there are more native americans on the tv show saving grace than I have seen in 5 years, and the dust bowl only involved 3 out of 77 countys in Oklahoma and oklahoma city was not one of them, i have lived in oklahoma 39 years before i even saw my first tornado in real life( and it didnt come and take a family member or a cow), we are not a bunch of hillbillies, but if u mess with us, we might come get ya

[#1soonerfan]

Originally Posted by okcsouthsider

Now, as far as racial or religious discrimination goes, i think most of okc really doesn't care if you are white, black, asian, or gay, but there does seem to be alot of prejiduce against hispanics. Oklahoma even passed an illegal immigration law just for the hispanic community. likewise, they dont call this the buckle on the bible belt for nothing, although there are other religions, most non baptists learn not to mention their religious beliefs in mixed crowds to avoid the whole who is going to hell speech.

I think that is a fair assesment. I don't think its wrong to oppose ILLEGAL immigration but a lot of people have just decided that ALL hispanics are illegal. Most legal hispanics I've me are good hardworking people. Unfortunatley this is not a problem just in Oklahoma.

But I can only speak for myself. As a minority I have always felt that I was treated well OKC. In fact I know several other people who are in interracial relationships here who have no problem. Honestly I'm lost as to why there is thread 8 pages long debating how racist OKC is

Originally Posted by okcsouthsider

Crime in OKC is a mixed bag. i have lived all over the inner city and the only time i have ever been robbed was in an upscale suburb called quail creek in the far nw of the city. mostly it is pretty safe but crime can happen anywhere in any city so you always have to be aware( we do have a few bad areas, but not as bad as the bad areas off other major cities)

That is a good point and is something I have noticed about OKC. Its not so much a "good side vs bad side" thing so much as it is an "inner city vs outer city" issue. When I grew up in Dallas I was always told to stay away from the southside and the northside was all honey and sunshine and nothing bad ever happened there crime wise. In OKC, however, it seems the inner quadrants are the ones with the crime problems. In the inner SW side you have some of the highest crime rates in the city, but go south of 240 and its perfectly fine. In fact it seems like the areas south of 104th are quite affluent. Same for the NW NE and to a lesser extent SE qudrants of town.

But I always laugh when people say "avoid that scary inner city!" like its some warzone. Spend some time in New Orleans, Memhpis, Dallas, or some other crime ridden city for a little while and the worst parts of OKC will seem like paradise!

[Synopsis]

Good post #1soonerfan. Reps to you!

[dejaentendu19]

Originally Posted by redbird4848

I would like to add that what I say comes from working for the past 10 years in the criminal justice field.

Oklahomans have no idea what transpires in our fair state. And I am sure its like this all over. The media only covers a fraction of what happens.

I mean this literally, people. You need to keep your guard up. There are some very horrible crimes committed randomly. Even in rural areas. I often ask the offender why they picked that particular victim, and 9 times out of 10, they say they had made up their mind they were going to rob someone (or do whatever crime they committed), and that victim just happened to be the one who crossed their paths.

One of my jobs is to get the inmate's version of the crime(s). Some really scary stuff has transpired that never make it to the newsprint. I have some stories that would boggle your mind.

Now, I am not siding with Windy, but I am saying the state of OK has its share of senseless crimes committed against totally innocent people. And since I also covered the OK County jail, I can tell you, the amount of people being released before they are convicted AND sentenced to prison time is mind boggling.

I just want to remind everyone to be heads up and be aware of your surroundings, as I am sure most people are. Having said that, its not like Detroit or Los Angeles, and I am not in any way pointing the finger at any given race or ethnic group. So don't even go there.

So don't go walking around in the park or whatever after midnight just because you think it won't happen to you.

Now, I will put away my soapbox.

So...do you advocate concealed carry for able citizens. I'm thinking about it, but wonder what ramifications with the law I will have if pulled over and tell them I am carrying.

[brokebackman]

OKC has its share of predjudiced people, but I'd bet my last dollar that you'll find less of it here than in 90% of America. The people here are generally friendly and willing to take your measure by how good your word is, your work ethic, even if you cut your grass often enough! I'm a gay man who has rarely come across someone who gave me any grief for it; although it is "official OKC policy" to disrespect us simply because of whom we love. It might be in part that I don't fit the stereotypes the media hangs on us, but then I don't recall the last time I saw a African-American stealing a watermelon either. The average person here will give you the opportunity to be a good neighbor and expects the same. The crime here is low compared with many cities and much of it can be avoided by using comon sense. My work has introduced me to people who work all over the world, yet their home is OKC. I believe that says more than i can about it.

Originally Posted by Ursela

Thanks, everyone for the info and I will be looking into more before coming to Oklahoma. I have one more question and please don't take offense but I am a african american and someone told me that Oklahoma is predjudice. Can anyone shed light on this for me. Again I pray I have not offended anyone.

[martav]

I am looking for information on the "Old Cleveland" neighborhood area in NW 25th in OKC I saw a house listed there. I am moving to Oklahoma with a job promotion and I am looking for a nice area in the city or around the city and I have two girls ages 11 and 14. I don't mind an old neighborhood as long as it is relatively safe.

Any information you guys have will be very much appreciated.


Marta

[FutureArchitect]

I live here in OkC and im also african american! Everyone is great and I havent had any problems. Its a great place to live and I have never heard of any race crimes? But I live in the NW part and it is awsome. You might want to also check out Edmond. The city of Edmond is exquisite.

[TU 'cane]

Originally Posted by FutureArchitect

I live here in OkC and im also african american! Everyone is great and I havent had any problems. Its a great place to live and I have never heard of any race crimes? But I live in the NW part and it is awsome. You might want to also check out Edmond. The city of Edmond is exquisite.

Oklahoma City is pretty diverse, from what I've experienced anyway. Nearly everyone down there is nice, doesn't matter what race, I've had pleasant conversations with OKCers of a few kinds of ethnicities.