Flanked by the city’s top cops and lifeguards at the Mission Beach boardwalk, Mayor Jerry Sanders announced the planned police staffing at city beaches for the Fourth of July holiday week.
Because Independence Day falls on a Wednesday, Sanders said police are preparing for holiday crowds from Friday, June 29, through Sunday, July 8.
Capt. Boyd Long from the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) Northern Division said the city is estimating 1.7 million people will visit city beaches, from Ocean Beach to La Jolla, during the 10-day period. July 4 will be the busiest day, with an estimated 600,000 people.
In preparation for the large crowds, Long said SDPD will maintain high visibility to ensure a safe environment. He said vice and Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) officers will patrol the bars and nightclubs and DUI enforcement officers will be stopping anyone suspected of drunk driving.
“If you come to the beach and drink alcohol, then drive, expect to meet one of our officers,” Boyd said at the June 25, press conference at Ventura Place.
SDPD will also set up a number of command posts throughout the area. The primary command post will be located at De Anza Cove, 2727 De Anza Road.
Smaller command posts will be located at the Fiesta Island entrance and at Belmont Park, the foot of Reed Street, Fanuel Street Park, Ski Beach, La Jolla at 1100 Coast Blvd., and Ocean Beach at the corner of Newport and Abbott.
“Officers will be on patrol on foot, by bike, motorcycle, ATV, car, boat and air,” Long said.
He also wants the public to know that it is illegal to smoke at the beach, on the boardwalk and in city parks.
While drinking is allowed between the hours of noon and 8 p.m. at Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and Mission Bay Park, with the exception of Santa Clara Point, Boyd also reminded the public that no glass is allowed at the beach and kegs are illegal on the Fourth of July.
Lifeguard Chief Ken Hewitt said lifeguards will be on the lookout for risky behavior. While lifeguards performed 1,284 rescues during last year’s Fourth of July holiday, he said the department performed thousands of preventive actions to keep the public safe.
Thirty lifeguard towers from Ocean Beach to La Jolla will be staffed with 180 lifeguards daily, from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., from June 30 through July 3 and July 5 through 8. On July 4, 210 lifeguards will be on duty from 6 a.m. until the fireworks shows conclude between 10:30 and 11 p.m.
Hewitt said beachgoers should swim near lifeguard towers and keep children away from the fire pits.
Kathleen Hasenauer, acting deputy director of Developed Regional Parks, said the city will be bringing in more dumpsters to handle the expected 150 tons of trash generated over the holiday.
“We’ll be handing out free trash bags, so if you pack it in, pack it out,” she said.
Hasenauer also said beach-cleaning crews will begin picking up trash at 5 a.m., then use heavy equipment to rake and clean the sand.
An additional 70 portable restrooms will set up around the beach communities and cleaning crews will clean the restrooms twice each day during the week.
On July 5, a cleaning crew will head north from South Mission Beach while a second crew heads south from La Jolla, working toward each other until the beaches are cleared of debris.
Carlos Gutierrez of FreePB.org said volunteers will also hand out 5,000 trash bags to encourage beachgoers to pick up after themselves and will drop 120 trash boxes along Sail Bay, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach.
Volunteers will also hand out free Sober drinks at 6 p.m. on July 4 to anyone dropping off trash at either the Pacific Beach Drive or Fanuel Street stations.
Pointing to a display of illegal fireworks to his left, Capt. Sean Murphy with the Metro Arson Strike Force said fireworks start fires every Fourth of July holiday.
“If you are caught with fireworks, you will be cited and fined and they will be confiscated,” he said.
He said most fireworks-related injuries are caused by an unremarkable and common type: sparklers. Burning at 1,800 degrees, sparkler burns from the thin metal handle are most common.