July 4th, 2019, was a busy night for the Gilroy Police Department. GPD deployed 12 additional officers who were dedicated to enforcing fireworks violations. The additional officers were funded by mitigation fees that are added to legal fireworks sales in Gilroy. Most of these officers patrolled in unmarked vehicles. As a result, officers issued numerous citations and confiscated several illegal fireworks.
This year, officers utilized the “Nail’em” app, which was downloaded by numerous citizens citywide to help report illegal fireworks. Officers were able to immediately receive fireworks reports on their smart phones from people using the app. This shortened our response times and alleviated some calls that would have normally been handled by our dispatchers.
July 4th Calls for Service between 4:00 p.m and 2:00 a.m.:
- Officers received 241 calls for service. 119 of those calls were fireworks related.
- 137 reports of illegal fireworks were made by citizens using the “Nail’em” app.
July 4th Enforcement:
- 17 criminal citations were issued for fireworks violations.
- 43 administrative citations were issued for fireworks violations.
The Gilroy Police Department asks the public to call the non-emergency line at (408) 846-0350 or 911 for emergencies in relation to any further fireworks reports
