July 5, 2007
11 AM

• CMPD's goal for last night was to ensure people had a safe environment in which to celebrate the holiday, whether they were in the center city or neighborhoods
• We accomplished that goal
• Size of crowd at stadium estimated at 5,500 
• Center City –estimated 50,000 viewed fireworks. CMPD estimates at least 20,000 in and around the center city throughout the night
• CMPD's operations plan prepared for last night was solid and successfully implemented.  Officers aggressively enforced laws and intervened early to avoid any escalation of illegal behavior
• Around the divisions, the major issues were noise/fireworks complaints and traffic issues
• Excellent partnerships made things run especially well – Department of Social Services with the juveniles and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office, MEDIC and the Charlotte Fire Department in particular provided key support

 Arrests

Total of 143 arrests in the Center City of people ranging in age from 16-56, most of them 16-28 years old

• CCW – 9
• City/Town Violation – 10
• Contribute to delinquency – 1
• Disorderly Conduct – 27
• Drug Paraphernalia – 2
• DWI – 3
• Fail to Obey Traffic Officer – 3
• Impede Traffic – 22
• Intoxicated and Disruptive – 12
• Littering – 4
• NOL – 1
• Open Container – 5
• Possession of Marijuana – 9
• Possession of Cocaine – 2
• Pyrotechnics – 7
• Resisting Public Officer – 12
• Simple Assault – 1
• Trespassing – 10
• Urinating in Public – 2
• Window Tinting Violation – 1

 Some arrests that began as relatively minor infractions turned into major arrests: 

• Gun seizures, including one AK-47, 40 caliber pistol and pellet rifle out of one car
• Some evidence of gang presence, people throwing signs, made arrests
• One guy arrested for impeding traffic; turned out he had a gun in his pants; arrested for CCW in addition to impeding traffic
• Two fights along Tryon Street – officers moved in quickly, made arrests and calmed the situation, streets kept clear all night

 Juveniles

• Total of 26 juvenile arrests--19 curfew violations. Some curfew violations were added to other charges.
• We wrote 6 citations--3 citations to parents and 3 for aiding and abetting a juvenile
• 11 females and 15 males
• Youngest curfew violator was an 11 year old male

 Costs

We are compiling costs but most of the work was handled on-duty by canceling days off, shifting hours

 Fireworks

527 complaints throughout the jurisdiction, no issues with fireworks explosions in the center city like we had last year 

2100 until 2200           204 Calls For Service
2200 until 2300           112              "  "
2300 until 0000           102              "  "
0000 until 0100             63              "  "
0100 until 0200             34              "  "
0200 until 0300             12              "  "

•  When a high number of noise calls are experienced, the sergeant on duty typically advises HQ and his officers to zone check the fireworks calls and not actually assign themselves to the event
• This does not mean that officers do not drive by the area to check things out; it simply means that they are not actually assigned to the call
• This allows them to stay in-service should a high priority call come out.  In the majority of noise complaint calls, the complainant (person who calls 911) does not wish to be seen.