Wichita Police are on the lookout for trouble as the late night crowd flocks to Old Town, where recent weekends have been marred by gunfire.
"Nothing good ever happens after 12 a.m.," Old Town visitor Robbie Rose says.
Ten extra officers have been enlisted to assist with patrols the weekend following four previous weekends in which shots have been fired. Fortunately, no one was hurt in those recent incidents.
"It's an area of concern for the whole department," Sergeant Clay Germany says. "We need to try to get control of it, and try to make sure that no one gets hurt down here."
Cops are in cars and on foot.
"People are less likely to want to do anything they're not supposed to be doing when there is a police officer present," Officer Jim Wannow says.
On Friday night a car drives up on the sidewalk next to the Mosely Street parking garage where some of the recent trouble has taken place. The car crashes into a tree. It's an accident, and no one is hurt.
Around 2 a.m. is when much of the recent trouble has occurred. That's when hundreds, sometimes thousands of people leave the bars and crowd into the streets.
With inhibitions low, tensions can run high. Officers quickly work to clear everybody out.
Friday night proves to be a relatively trouble-free night in Old Town. Wichita police continued their stepped-up patrols on Saturday night. Old Town businesses are helping foot the bill for the extra officers. City officials are considering more permanent measures to keep the popular night spot safe.
