Texas Police Prepared for Emergence of Fugitives
BRIAN NELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the search for the so-called Texas seven. Texas authorities say they are focusing on the Dallas- Fort Worth area, where the gang of escaped prisoners may now be lying low. The cash reward for their capture doubled today to $200,000. Detectives say they have received more than 1200 tips so far, including more than 100 after television's "America's Most Wanted" featured the gang last night. The well-armed escapees have been on the run since December 13th. They are accused in the shooting death of a Texas police officer, killed in the course of a robbery. And reporter Jeff Crilley of affiliate station KDFW is following the police search efforts, and he joins us live now from Ferris, Texas; that's just outside Dallas -- Jeff.</s>JEFF CRILLEY, KDFW REPORTER: Well, I can tell you that Ferris is represented of small towns across Texas, gearing up for a showdown that they hope they won't have. Ferris is a town of about 2200 people. They write a lot of speeding ticket on the highway here, but there are seven guys in particular that they're a little concerned about running into. Joining me now is Lieutenant Sherman Swafford of the police department. What precautions are you guys taking?</s>LT. SHERMAN SWAFFORD, FERRIS POLICE DEPARTMENT: Well, the night guys -- we put them two to a car, and as you can see, with a fully automatic MP-5 machine gun. We are ready in case something does happen.</s>CRILLEY: But aren't you still outgunned?</s>SWAFFORD: Yes. We're very much outgunned. But, I mean, like I said, we have fully automatic weapons, but they do too. And when you -- small town, you got two or three officers on, and seven of them, you're still outgunned.</s>CRILLEY: I know you've done some thinking about this; if these guys were speeding, you were to turn on the red lights and sirens, would they pull over?</s>SWAFFORD: There's really two scenarios. First, is they'll pull over and let you get out of the car and then you'll have just a massive shoot out. Second scenario is, they're in two cars, you pull the first car over and the second vehicle will try to run over you. That's my biggest fear.</s>CRILLEY: What about assistance. This is a small town. You only have a certain amount of officers, certain amount of fire power. Dallas, 20 miles down the road. How fast could they be here?</s>SWAFFORD: Well, I have friends in Dallas SWAT -- that's where I took my training; and several of the officers. And they're just a few minutes away. We start calling them, they'll get here. We have other cities: Innis (ph), Lancaster; anybody has tack units that would assist if we have problems.</s>CRILLEY: Obviously, as a police officer, you want to avenge the death of a fellow police officer, but underneath that badge, you're a husband, you're a father. Do you even want to meet up with these guys?</s>SWAFFORD: To be truth -- truthfully, no. I don't think anybody wants to meet up with them. I think it would be best if the FBI, ATF would be able to track them down, capture them, and no one get hurt, but we have to be prepared just in case.</s>CRILLEY: Are you representative of a lot of other small towns across Texas?</s>SWAFFORD: Yes, I believe so. We're not the only ones that are carrying the weapons that you see here. I mean, there're a whole lot of cities here: Lancaster, Innis (ph), there's a few other places like that that are all carrying weapons.</s>CRILLEY: Thank you very much, Lieutenant Sherman Swafford of the Ferris Police Department. Preparing for a showdown that I don't think any one really wants. Back to you, Brian.</s>NELSON: Jeff, I'd like to ask you a question. Is there a credible tip that the police have received that points to the Dallas- Fort Worth area, and if so, can you describe the tip?</s>CRILLEY: Absolutely not. There's no evidence that they're even in Texas right now. Of course, after the "America's Most Wanted" show last night, there were more than a hundred tips that they're following up on, and I'm sure we'll learn more in the coming days about those tips and how reliable they are, but there's no information whatsoever that they're even in Texas.</s>NELSON: All right. Thank you. Reporter Jeff Crilley from KDFW following the police efforts, thanks.