AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Every year the Tri-State Fair brings crowds out the fair grounds in Amarillo. That also means extra security is on hand as well, just in case, and this year was no different.
"We base our security on the nights of the bigger events when there's going to be more people," explained Lt. Dee Aduddell with the Potter County Sheriff's Office. "Normally, your weekends and special event days we'll have extra security event people out here, which will probably be 12-13 officers on duty at that time."
The Potter County Sheriff's Office and the Amarillo Police Department teamed up to handle all of the fair's security needs throughout the week and weekend. Officers will be looking out for gatherings of crowds that are getting rowdy, lost children and even problems fair goers might face in the parking lots.
"Some of it is well lit, some of it's not," said Lt. Aduddell. "We just encourage the people that if they've got any valuable or anything else, just secure those items in the trunk of their vehicle. We're have some break-ins this year."
Although they don't deal with much trouble during the fair, one of the more common, smaller issues officers are on the lookout for are trouble-causing teens.
"We do have some that are dropped off at the gate by their parents and no parental guidance at all," he said. "That seems to be where we're having most of our problems. We have some every now and then that will go by as their closing down in the games area and they'll run by and grabbed a stuffed toy and try to leave." Aduddell added. "Some of them get away and some don't."
Security officers also recommend parents keep a close eye on their small children and maybe even taking precautionary measures just in case they are separated from their child.
"Put a note in the child's pocket with a cell phone number or some information on how we can contact them," said Aduddell. "Also, with the development of cell phones, most of them have cameras so we encourage them to take pictures of their children before they come out here."
Potter County and APD officers will be monitoring activity at the fair on foot, and through one watch tower set up near the food court.
