Their July 4 Was Busiest Day of the Year

While many people were sunning on the beach, firing up the barbecue or finding other ways to relax on Independence Day, Long Beach police and firefighters were out in force.

"The Fourth of July is one of the busiest, if not THE busiest day of the year," Long Beach Police Deputy Chief Robert G. Luna said.

Luna, deputy chief of the police Patrol Bureau, said he began planning for the holiday weeks earlier. Every July 4 thousands of visitors come to Long Beach and this year's holiday, although it fell on a Wednesday, was no exception. Belmont Shore beaches and streets were filled with people.

While police routinely do not disclose how many police are working on a given day, Luna said July 4 patrols were "significantly above" normal deployment levels. Police especially were looking for illegal fireworks and public drunkeness.

"Our goal is to keep people safe," Luna said.

Mike DuRee, who became Long Beach's new fire chief two days before the July 4 holiday, said firefighters also were out in force. On holidays when people are home from work, calls for ambulances and paramedics also increase. And lifeguards, who are part of Long Beach Fire Department, have bigger crowds to survey on the beaches.

The Long Beach Fire Investigations Unit, or arson detail, was especially busy finding and confiscating illegal fireworks, DuRee said. The arson detail has the power to cite, and in Long Beach, the penalty for illegal fireworks is a $1,000 fine and six months jail time.