Law Enforcement Agencies Working Together To Ensure Safety, Security At Polls On Election Day

Several law enforcement agencies ramped up security at the polls on Election Day.

While thousands of people went to vote on Tuesday, law enforcement agencies made the rounds at polling locations to make themselves seen and make sure everyone at the polls were safe.

Casting a vote, it's the right of all U.S. citizens, one that Oklahoma law enforcement agencies worked to keep safe on election day.

"What we're going to be doing here in the city of Broken Arrow is sending our units out to the more than 40 polling places in Tulsa and Wagoner counties, which fall within the city limits of Broken Arrow," said Major Stephen Garrett of the Broken Arrow Police Department. 

BAPD worked with the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office, Tulsa Police, and other agencies to add more on-duty officers in preparation for what was expected to be an unprecedented voter turnout.

"Typically, on a regular day, we'll have anywhere around 20 to 25 officers on the streets, and then we bolstered that a little bit today, so we have our special response team out to give us some directed enforcement at the polling places," said Major Garrett. 

While officers weren't stationed at any specific polling places, they checked in often to make sure there were no concerns.

"We are aware that there are sometimes threats that go out throughout the community on days like election day, so we're just making sure that as our community goes out and exercises their right to vote, that they're going to be safe when they do that and we're going to be around to make sure that that happens and if we're needed then we'll be there, Major Garrett said. 

Officers with Broken Arrow Police said they were keeping a close on what could happen after election day and would handle any unrest as it comes.