The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) has introduced new technologies to monitor the 2025 Tulsa State Fair, including facial recognition systems, drones, and child-identification tools. Sheriff Vic Regalado emphasized that the measures are aimed at boosting public safety during the event, which runs from today to October 5 and is expected to draw around one million visitors.
Child Safety Applications
One of the new tools allows deputies to take a photo of a child and pair it with parent or guardian contact information. The details are uploaded into TCSO’s system so that cameras across the fairgrounds can help locate the child if they become separated. Parents are also encouraged to take their own photos of their children before entering and can obtain free wristbands at sheriff’s office points around the fair. Sheriff Regalado noted that 138 children were reunited with their families during last year’s fair.
“We offer a facial recognition system where a deputy takes a photo of your child, along with your contact information… [it] will allow our cameras to use facial recognition to help deputies locate your child,” Regalado said at a press briefing.
Security and Surveillance
In addition to child reunification, TCSO will use facial recognition to identify individuals banned from the fair or those with outstanding warrants. Regalado publicly warned that wanted persons should avoid the fair, saying, “If you have criminal warrants, you probably don’t want to show up at the fair.”
The office will also deploy drones to monitor crowd flow and identify potential criminal activity across the fairgrounds. Deputies are encouraging visitors to continue reporting incidents by calling 911 or speaking to on-site officers, even as drones provide additional visibility.
QR Codes and Crime Tips
TCSO is also promoting the use of QR codes that allow visitors to upload tips or videos of suspected crimes for deputies to review. Combined with the wristband program, the initiative is being framed as a “blanket of security” aimed at making the fair safer and more efficient for families.
Wider Context
Facial recognition has been gaining traction in public venues across the United States, with recent deployments at professional sports stadiums including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, LAFC, and Gillette Stadium. College campuses are also adopting the technology, with the University of Florida piloting Wicket-powered express entry lanes for football games this season.
At the Tulsa State Fair, however, the emphasis remains on safety and child protection, with officials underscoring that the new systems are designed to support families and deter crime.
Sources: 2 News Oklahoma, KRMG, KTUL
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
