Oklahoma City Police Department Redraws Patrol Boundaries

For the first time in more than 20 years, The Oklahoma City Police Department redraws its patrol boundaries.

The hope is for quicker response times across the city, but that's not the reason for the change.

Oklahoma City police say the change in patrol boundaries, has little to with crime, or man power.

News 9 is told the department's Santa Fe division, which covers much of the south side of the city, out into the rural areas of the county, was simply too large.

"You can't put anything back there, because it will all disappear," said Janell Heistand.

Janell Heistand has lived off 43rd and Portland for more than 30 years, and she says she's seen her neighborhood transform. 

"I have a shed in the back, and I have nothing left in my shed," said Heistand. "All my lawnmowers, my weed eaters, has all been stolen last summer. It's just been terrible."

Doyle Mount lives next door and says the same thing has happened to him.

"I've had lots of stuff stolen right out of my garage door," said Doyle Mount. "And I've learned to keep my garage door down too."

Oklahoma City police hope new boundary lines will even out police patrols not only across the city, but in what was the city's largest division.

"We're hoping to better use what we've got in the way of manpower in a more effective way," said Capt. Dexter Nelson, OCPD. "The Santa Fe Division is almost the complete size of all three of the other divisions put together."

The Santa Fe Division has been split into two. The future opening of the new Southwest Division briefing station on Southwest 54th and Portland is the primary reason for the change.

"It would be nice whenever I call them, they could be here real quick," said Heistand.

Janell and Doyle live a little less than half a mile away from the new station.

"I'd like for it to be down here on the end of the street," said Mount.

"I sit here and I watch drug deals go down every day," said Heistand. "I welcome any presence there is."

1990 was the last time police patrol boundaries were changed.

The new division boundaries will go into effect, Tuesday.