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MEMORANDUM
Date: July 22, 2011
To: Mayor Pete Lewis
From: Bob Lee, Chief of Police
Reference: 2011 Fireworks After Action Report
Statement:
The Auburn Police Department has been diligently addressing illegal fireworks within the City of
Auburn since 2003. This year the department utilized a similar deployment plan and directive
outlining the same expectations as in 2010.
Department policy directs Officers to take a "zero tolerance" policy with regard to illegal firework
possession and discharge. Further, response to 911 calls for service will be as timely as
possible and arrests made when probable cause exists. In 2011, we strived to maintain the
below objectives and make possible recommended changes for 2012 based on the statistics
that were derived.
1. Maintain citizen awareness of the fireworks laws and emphasis patrols.
2. Continue to increase the amount of fireworks arrests and fireworks confiscated.
3. Continue to work with the VRFA with cooperative enforcement efforts.
4. Through presence and education, decrease calls for service by citizens.
5. Work with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe to address safety issues in the stands
area as well as traffic concerns.
6. Monitor and assist the tribe with shutting down the discharge area in accordance with the MIT
Resolution.
Create a deployment plan that sufficiently staffs the city with emphasis officers during
the fireworks season.
Results:
o Newspaper articles and city signage were utilized again this year. Flyers were sent out
electronically from the school district to student's homes. CRT utilized their apartment
manager email list to send out the fireworks flyers. Using the City of Auburn Community
Services Department, flyers were electronically sent to HOA's and information was sent
out in the Mayor's update.
o In 2011, fireworks arrests remained the same as 2010 with 8 arrests. The amount of
fireworks confiscated by emphasis officers decreased from 66,000 pieces in 2009 to
12,000 pieces in 2010 and down to 10,887 pieces in 2011. From a visual standpoint it
did not appear to be any busier this year than last year, however there were many more
calls for service from citizens.
o The fireworks emphasis began on June 13th with one officer each night for the first week,
two officers each night for the second week, four officers were assigned to July 2nd and
six officers worked July 3rd. 16 officers were assigned to neighborhood emphasis patrols
on July 4th. Because the 4th was on a Monday, half of the emphasis officers were due
back to work at 0600 the next day so were released from duty before midnight. This
reduced the amount of emphasis officers, but there were over 12 district officers on duty
that assisted with responding to fireworks calls along with the emphasis officers.
o On July 4th 10 officers were assigned on or near the Muckleshoot fireworks stands and
discharge area. The fireworks stands and discharge area for the most part was orderly
and there were no major problems. The Smoke Shop and the Bingo Hall were shut
down early by the Tribe and they did not allow anyone to park or sit on that side of
Auburn Way South which cut down on pedestrians illegally crossing the street.
o On July 4th Over 11 police cars and 2 motorcycles were used for citywide fireworks
enforcement. 22 officers, 2 motorcycle officers and 3 sergeants encompassed the
deployment plan which was broken up into four areas; North Auburn, East (Lea Hill),
South Auburn and the fireworks stands.
o In 2011, VRFA participated in the emphasis by providing 2 firework transport vehicles.
Both transport vehicles split the city and provided transport duties to officers confiscating
fireworks. This enabled officers to remain in service and take the next available call.
VRFA provided the transport drivers, as well as, assigning a person to the storage
container for an accurate account of fireworks seized and proper storage.
o In 2011, the Police Department had representation at the Muckleshoot Law and Order
Meetings and regular one on one conversation with the Fireworks Commissioner. This
allowed us input with regard to the stands and discharge area. Traffic congestion in and
around the stands was a major concern this year and the Commission was very
interested in resolving this problem. The Muckleshoot Tribe paved the entrance area of
the fireworks stands leading to the large parking lot. They also improved the exit road.
The intent was to be able to move traffic faster off of Auburn Way South so the traffic
coming up the hill did not back-up. "C" curbing at the Muckleshoot Dr. Turn lane was
removed to allow more cars into the turn lane. We did not have near as much back up
this year as we did last year. Auburn Way South and the turn lane into the stands did
back up around 2130 hours for about'/2 hour but was attributed to quantity of cars on the
road.
o In 2011, the Tribe created a resolution placing curfew hours on discharging fireworks on
reservation land. The weekday curfew was 2200 and the weekend curfew was 2400.
July 4th curfew time was 0200. With the assistance of officers and patrol cars the
discharge area cleared with no problems and fireworks immediately stopped.
o The deployment plan basically had the same number of officers working on the 4th as in
2010. The slight difference was that more officers were working as district cars than
emphasis cars and some officers had to be released early so they had enough time to
sleep between their next shift. Since there was a 55% increase in calls this year the
officers were not able to respond to every call.
Fireworks calls for service and raw numbers
58 officers were assigned to emphasis patrols in 2011 with a high priority being placed within
the neighborhoods. Along with emphasis patrols there were over 12 officers working patrol on
July 4th assisting with fireworks calls. Fireworks calls for service were up from 2010. There were
162 calls for service in 2010 and 291 calls for service in 2011, a 55 % increase. Calls for
service between June 13th and June 30th were 112, an average of 6.2 calls per day. From
Friday July 1s' through Sunday July 3rd there were 80 fireworks calls, an average of 26.7 calls
per day. On the 4th of July, fireworks related calls for service totaled 99. This is up from 62 in
2010. On July 5th there were 16 Firework related calls.
There was a total of 8 fireworks related arrests from June 13th through the 4th and 4 of those
arrests were on the 4th. In 2008, there were 33,000 pieces of illegal fireworks taken - in 2009
our officers confiscated 66,000 pieces of illegal fireworks. In 2010, 12,000 pieces of illegal
fireworks were taken and in 2011, 10,887 pieces and almost all of it were confiscated on July
4th.
200
150
100
50
0
■ 911 Fireworks
Calls on July 4th
Figure 1: Number of fireworks 911 calls for service on the 4th of July shown by year.
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2008 2010 2011
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
❑ Total 911
Calls for
Service
Figure 2: Number of fireworks 911 calls for service from May 26th to July 6th shown by year.
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
Figure 3: Total number of individual pieces of illegal Fireworks seized.
50
40
30
20
10
0
Figure 3: Total Fireworks Arrests from May 26th to July 6th 2011.
■ Fireworks
Confiscated
■ Fireworks
Arrests
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
2011 Hotspots:
Three areas were identified as major problem areas. This is based on citizen 911 calls
complaining about fireworks being discharged in their area prior to the 4t", on the 4t", and days
after the 4t". These three areas also were identified as "hotspots" based on officer's
observations.
1. Forest Villa neighborhood: specifically on and around Gingko St.
2 22nd and "I" St. NE.
3. 22nd and "N". St. NE.
4. Lea Hill in general
Suggestions for 2012
o Continue to pursue an aggressive "zero-tolerance" policy of criminal enforcement and
confiscation of illegal fireworks.
o Establish more defined zones within the city for emphasis officers to patrol to possibly
get a better idea where the major problems are occurring.
o Continue education and awareness through flyers, newspaper articles, and television
coverage.
o Continue to improve relationships with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and a cooperative
effort with regard to fireworks. Work with the Tribe's attorney in May and try to obtain
the curfew resolution at least 30 days prior to the 4tn
o Work with the Tribe and try to get them to increase Muckleshoot security at the stands.
They had very few security officers at the stands this year.
o To avoid confusion about which officers are at the stands and which officers are
emphasis patrols have the stands officers log in as 9A units and have the emphasis
officers log in as 4A units.
o Increase the deployment roster level by two officers for emphasis patrols. We were light
on Lee Hill and should have at least two cars assigned there. Move some of the district
officers to fireworks specific emphasis officers earlier in the evening of the 4t" to assist
with calls.
o Increase emphasis patrols in the hotspots before the 4t" and on the 4t" of July. Prior to
the 4t" spend some time in each neighborhood talking to homeowners and educating
them on the laws and warning them about our emphasis patrols
Conclusion:
From a visual standpoint this July 4t" appeared to be about the same as last year as far as
seeing fireworks being discharged into the air. However, this year there were many more calls
from citizens who were upset about the discharge of fireworks.
The traffic on Auburn Way South was successfully managed and there were no collisions or
traffic incidents of any kind reported. No officers were injured and there were no serious injuries
to any citizens and no reported structure fires.