June 26, 2007
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is taking a number of precautions to ensure public safety during the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, including a larger than normal deployment of officers throughout the county. CMPD will accomplish this by:
- limiting vacation leave for officers
- deploying officers from specialized units
- coordinating the use of officers working off-duty assignments
It is our sincere hope that all citizens celebrating July 4th, whether in the Center City or elsewhere in the county, will do so responsibly.
Field Service (Patrol) Divisions
All Field Service Divisions will be fully staffed and prepared to respond to an expected increase in calls for service on the evening of July 4th and the early hours of July 5th. We expect calls related to parties, fireworks, traffic accidents and alcohol to increase during this time period. All patrol divisions will see an increased deployment of officers, including the center city.
Center City
The fireworks display will bring thousands of people to the Center City. To ensure a safe and secure environment for those attending any of this event, the Department, in partnership with CFD, MEDIC and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office, has developed a comprehensive operational plan. A sufficient number of emergency personnel will be deployed at fixed and mobile locations based on anticipated need. While officers will understand the celebratory atmosphere, any behaviors which threaten the safety of others will not be tolerated. Officers will enforce violations of the ordinance forbidding open containers of alcohol, blocking City streets and sidewalks and the possession of illegal fireworks, among others.
CMPD Command Center
The Command Center will be open late afternoon on July 4 to coordinate CMPD and other emergency services response to the entire county. Command personnel from CMPD, Charlotte Fire Department, MEDIC, Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office and CDOT will staff the center to provide a unified response to any issues that arise anywhere in the county.
Civil Emergency Unit
A full complement of our Civil Emergency Unit officers will be deployed during the evening hours of July 4. These officers, trained and equipped to deal with civil disorders of any size, will be mobile and deployed so they can respond quickly anywhere in our jurisdiction.
Highway Interdiction and Traffic Safety Unit (HITS)
The CMPD HITS Unit will be deployed to heavily enforce DWI and other traffic laws.
Communication/Public Affairs
In addition to these operational plans, we will be taking steps to ensure good communication before, during and after the Fourth.
CMPD personnel will make themselves available throughout the week for interviews on different aspects of the events, including providing reminders about the curfew and legal/illegal fireworks. Please direct all inquiries and requests for interviews through the Public Affairs Office.
Public Affairs will staff the Command Center and will have a public affairs officer in the field. We will issue reports and provide briefings as needed throughout the event.
Youth Protection Ordinance
As a reminder, CMPD officers will be enforcing the Youth Protection Ordinance that requires children under the age of 16 (unless accompanied by a parent or guardian) to be home by curfew. Since the Fourth falls on a Wednesday, the curfew is 11 PM (it does not change because of the holiday). If a child is out past 11:00 and the police get involved, parents need to plan on picking up the child at the Police Department. Parents can receive citations, too, so for everyone's safety, especially our kids, let's make sure they are either home or with a responsible parent or guardian.
