Force plans ahead for Fourth

The public safety officials in Newport Beach are already thinking about the next July 4 holiday.Although it might seem like summer just ended, the Newport Beach Police Department is already planning how to handle next year’s Fourth of July crowds.

In an Oct. 25 report to the city council, police reported that crowds and traffic issues warrant a strong law enforcement presence to continue in the future.

Tackling the use of illegal fireworks, however, still needs some work, officials said.

Fireworks of all kinds -- even the so-called safe and sane variety -- are illegal within the city, said Newport Beach Fire Marshall Ron Bryg.

If police see people setting off fireworks, they will enforce the law. It’s just an issue of having enough man power to do it, said Newport Police Capt. John Desmond.

“We get so many reports of fireworks being utilized that we just can’t respond to all of them,” Desmond said, adding that the number of calls reporting illegal fireworks overwhelms police resources.

The fire department is busy responding to alcohol-related medical incidents, and firefighters don’t have time to look for illegal fireworks, Bryg said.

“There’s so many medical emergencies that our guys are going pretty much all day long,” Bryg said.

Historically, the peninsula is the city’s biggest worry on the Fourth of July.

“That’s the highest concentration of people in a small area. That’s where everybody comes down to attend parties and celebrate the Fourth in that beach environment,” Desmond said.

This year’s Fourth of July celebrations went without major incidents, the police department said in the Oct. 25 staff report. The most serious injury occurred when a party attendee fell off the balcony of a private residence, police said in the report.

The police department begins preparing for next year’s Fourth of July coverage before the current year’s celebrations are even over, Desmond said.

Local law enforcement doesn’t see an end in sight for the Fourth of July crowds. In his 28 years working with Newport Police, Desmond said the beach has always been the place to go on the Fourth.

And unless people decide to go elsewhere, a strong law enforcement presence will always be needed.

* LAUREN VANE covers public safety and courts. She may be reached at (714) 966-4618 or by e-mail at [email protected].