Bryant PD Takes to the Sky to Fight Holiday Crime
By: Lauren Trager for KNWA News
Updated: December 12, 2012
Some police officers are taking to the sky, hoping to cut down on holiday crime.
But some are wondering whether the curious contraption in the Bryant Walmart parking lot is keeping shoppers safe or if it's a bit too much like Big Brother.
It looks like something you'd want to have in the woods.
"I wouldn't mind having one of those to keep a watch out for the deer, that's for sure," said Luke Porter, looking at the tower.
But the tower at the Bryant Walmart isn't to keep an eye out for bucks. Instead, the officers inside are watching you.
"Desperate times, people do desperate things," said Bryant Police Sgt. Todd Crowson.
Sgt. Crowson says crime always spikes around the holidays. So this year, they decided to go up in order to crack down.
"It's a good way to deter crime," he said.
Sgt. Crowson says it's all about the advantage they get from up above: An officer may not be able to see criminals creeping around cars as well from the ground, as they can from the sky.
"I think it's been real effective and it will be in the future as well."
This crime tool, they say, itself was a steal. Breand new, one of these lifting towers would cost $75,000. But Bryant police purchased there's from a military surplus store for just $250 and spruced it up for a couple hundred more.
"It was a good investment, it's helped out a lot," said Sgt. Crowson.
But some shoppers we talked to say it's a little strange knowing they're being watched.
"It does bother me about privacy you know, but on the other hand, they can watch me all day, I'm not planning on doing anything wrong," said Polly Swab, one shopper we spoke with.
To keep the bad guys behind bars, others say, it's definitely worth it.
"It's impressive and I am glad they are doing it for sure," said Porter.
Officers say they will move the tower around to other locations to keep criminals guessing about where it will be and when an officer will be inside.
They say it can be even more effective than security cameras, because the officer inside is able to react to the crime quickly.
After they come down, of course.
This idea isn't unique just to Bryant. Cities like New York and areas outside of Dallas also have towers like this. One agency reported they have no car break-ins or thefts within a 500 foot radius of the towers.
But some are wondering whether the curious contraption in the Bryant Walmart parking lot is keeping shoppers safe or if it's a bit too much like Big Brother.
It looks like something you'd want to have in the woods.
"I wouldn't mind having one of those to keep a watch out for the deer, that's for sure," said Luke Porter, looking at the tower.
But the tower at the Bryant Walmart isn't to keep an eye out for bucks. Instead, the officers inside are watching you.
"Desperate times, people do desperate things," said Bryant Police Sgt. Todd Crowson.
Sgt. Crowson says crime always spikes around the holidays. So this year, they decided to go up in order to crack down.
"It's a good way to deter crime," he said.
Sgt. Crowson says it's all about the advantage they get from up above: An officer may not be able to see criminals creeping around cars as well from the ground, as they can from the sky.
"I think it's been real effective and it will be in the future as well."
This crime tool, they say, itself was a steal. Breand new, one of these lifting towers would cost $75,000. But Bryant police purchased there's from a military surplus store for just $250 and spruced it up for a couple hundred more.
"It was a good investment, it's helped out a lot," said Sgt. Crowson.
But some shoppers we talked to say it's a little strange knowing they're being watched.
"It does bother me about privacy you know, but on the other hand, they can watch me all day, I'm not planning on doing anything wrong," said Polly Swab, one shopper we spoke with.
To keep the bad guys behind bars, others say, it's definitely worth it.
"It's impressive and I am glad they are doing it for sure," said Porter.
Officers say they will move the tower around to other locations to keep criminals guessing about where it will be and when an officer will be inside.
They say it can be even more effective than security cameras, because the officer inside is able to react to the crime quickly.
After they come down, of course.
This idea isn't unique just to Bryant. Cities like New York and areas outside of Dallas also have towers like this. One agency reported they have no car break-ins or thefts within a 500 foot radius of the towers.
