LAWTON, Okla_The massacre at
the Colorado
movie theater has left many moviegoers across the country wondering if they're
safe and if the movie will continue to play. Friday we talked to several local
movie theaters that said the movie "The Dark Knight Rises" would
continue to play as scheduled and that there would not be any adjustments made
to scheduling in light of the Colorado
shootings. Security would remain in place as usual but security including Lawton police did discuss
the shooting and are on heightened alert.
Police said
there's always reason for concern when you place yourself in a public
environment where you're surrounded by tens or hundreds of people. They said
there isn't any reason to change your plans or destination due to a crowd, but
that you should change your mind set. Sadly the scene at the movie theater is
not an uncommon one.
"It seems
like that's becoming the norm across the nation, we've had mall shootings,
school shootings, now a theatre, just had one in Alabama just a few days ago,"
Captain Ralph Szatkowki said.
Police are not
encouraging people to stay in doors out of fear.
"The more
people he can get excited the more he gets a response to himself, it's almost
euphoric to him, why they do this I don't know, you couldn't tell me no one could
but we're in a society where it is the norm."
He instead said
to make sure when you are out, to be aware of the added dangers that are around
you.
"The
majority of law enforcement, most officers, when they let their guard down they
are at home, it's their only safe haven, when we come out on the street, the
grocery store, we pay attention to what's going on and that's all you need to
do, be aware of your surroundings and what's happening around you."
In the wake of
a tragedy like this one he said to remember to act not react.
"Unfortunately
we live in a society that is reactive, we have a tendency to wait until
something terrible happens and then react to it and set our plans in place and
we can't afford to do that."
Even more
important Szatkowki said to be in a constant state of awareness.
"We have a
tendency to peak and then when nothing happens to get complacent and
unfortunately complacency kills."
Szatkowki told
me his guys patrolling the mall or acting as security will be on high alert in
addition to anyone on patrol.
