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SPECIAL EVENT OPERATIONS ORDERS
4th of July Fireworks enforcement
Friday July 4th, 2025
1500 – 0100 hours
SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT MISSION
The mission for this event is to insure public safety and to keep the peace with special attention to potential issues with individuals under the influence of alcohol. The goal of the Salinas Police Department is to provide a safe environment for this event and the community members attending the event. The Salinas Police Department will also ensure traffic around the event is not adversely affected and calls for service regarding the event are promptly addressed.
EVENT DESCRIPTION
As we get closer to July 4th, the calls for illegal fireworks are going to start coming in. As a result, several brush fires occur and homes catch fire in Salinas. While we won’t be able to prevent all of this, it’s important we address it when we can. Some of the codes have changed and the following is a quick guide to fireworks enforcement.
The best tool we have to deter the use of illeagal fireworks is 5-02.19 SCC. This section allows for an administrative citation be issued to a property owner where illegal fireworks are occurring. If you see aerial fireworks coming from a specific backyard or location, document what you saw as best you can, do a report for 5-02.19 SCC and forward it to City of Salinas Fire Prevention. They are going to be issuing the administrative cites to all property owners after July 4th. Although helpful, making contact with the resident is not even necessary for this section. If feasible - make contact, get statements, collect any additional illegal fireworks and photograph the remains of whatever was launched. Make sure to get the address you suspect into CAD. Using 5-02.19 SCC is very simple and will only need a short report.
If you observe someone in possession of illegal fireworks, use section 5-02.03 SCC. There are also H&S sections you can use but SCC are preferred. To determine if fireworks are illegal and not “safe and sane”, look for the seal on the package that says it’s a registered firework with the State of California. An example of this seal is on the attached California Department of Forestry H&S code cheat sheet. For most cases, just photograph the fireworks and place them in the storage locker outside of Fire station #1 (no need to do an evidence tag). You will need to contact the on duty Battalion Chief to access the locker. If you get a more serious case (large quantity or sales), do an evidence tag and book them in the other locker at Fire station #1 that is for retaining items.
If you seize fireworks, cite someone or send a report over to Fire Prevention for an administrative cite, make sure to log it on a stat sheet on the Watch Commander’s desk so we can keep track of our numbers.
SITUATION
Overview of Unit Assignments
This year’s 4th of July falls on a Friday and it is expected that illegal fireworks use will increase as the day gets closer.
The number of officers and sergents assigned to fireworks enforcement is still TBD. The Sergeants will have access to the fireworks crime tips as they are logged by fire personel and assign them to the officers to investigate as needed. Enforcemet action will be taken whenever possible. Depending on the circumstances officers may cite/arrest and/or take aministrative action. When administrative action is taken, a report will be completed and sent to Fire for follow-up. Confiscated fireworks will be disposed of at the location to be determined by Fire.
Drone units will respond to fireworks reports and when able be proactive. Unless public safetey is at risk or any other illegal activity is observed, contact does not need to be made with subjects shooting illegal fireworks. The violation and location will be recorded and the footage will be uploaded as per policy. The footage will be labled with a citation number provided by SFD and a citation will be mailed by them.
EXECUTION OF THE MISSION
Event Briefing
Salinas Police Department and Salinas Fire Department will brief at Station 1 at 1700 hrs.
COMMUNICATIONS
Dispatch
All communications for this event will take place on SPD Channel TBD.
Radio Designators
All Salinas Police Department personnel will be assigned a radio call sign. Those personnel with designated unit call signs (ie: Traffic / Detectives / Reserve Officers) will use their assigned unit call sign. All others will be given a “Frank” unit call sign. Call sign numbers will begin with #10 and increase until all officers have a radio call sign assigned to them.
Chain of Command
All Sworn Officers will report directly to the assigned supervisors for the event (refer to assignment sheet). The Sergeant will personally notify each on-duty Watch Commander of the event, along with providing a personnel roster with radio designators. A copy of the Operations Orders will be provided to the on-duty Watch Commander.