Newport easing police presence for July 4 as arrests decline

As they do every summer, Newport Beach police are gearing up for the sometimes raucous crowds that descend on the city every Fourth of July, but after recent drops in arrests during the holiday period, the department is drawing down the number of officers on the streets.

In 2010, the Newport Beach Police Department started cracking down on a party-like atmosphere in West Newport that many residents thought had gotten out of hand.

With tactics such as tripling fines in the most affected areas and flooding the Balboa Peninsula with patrols, police believe they have made progress in bringing the celebration under control, police spokeswoman Jennifer Manzella said.

Arrests during the Fourth of July holiday period have been gradually dropping since 2010, according to Manzella.

Last year marked the first time in 14 years that arrests were under triple digits, she said.

According to the department, police last year arrested 94 people citywide between 6 p.m. July 3 and 6 a.m. July 5. That’s compared with 120 arrests during the same period in 2014 and 159 in 2008, according to police.

“Last year was a very big drop,” Manzella said.

In response, police are slowly easing back the number of personnel assigned to police the partying.

Last year, Newport Beach called in 100 staff members from outside agencies to supplement the city’s officers for the Fourth. This year, it’s bringing in 75, Manzella said.

The department also has been able to reassign some officers from the party zones to deal with other nuisances, like fireworks, which are illegal in Newport.

On Monday, Independence Day, four teams of two officers each will be rolling through the city in patrol cars, focusing on fireworks calls, Manzella said.

The vast majority of arrests on the Fourth are alcohol-related, according to the department.

“We do see the odd narcotics or fighting or vandalism, but usually it’s based in alcohol,” Manzella said.

This year, residents and visitors to Newport can keep up with any major police actions or disruptions like street closures by signing up for alerts from the Police Department.

To receive alerts about the Fourth, text NBJULY4TH to 888777, Manzella said.