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Federal Way police report fewer fireworks calls but cite enforcement limits after Fourth of July concert
Summary
At the July 15 City Council meeting Deputy Chief Casey Jones reported a drop in fireworks calls but said ticketing fell after officers were redeployed to a large Memorial Stadium concert; police and council members discussed seizures, juvenile handling and public-safety tradeoffs.
Deputy Chief Casey Jones told the Federal Way City Council on July 15 that overall fireworks-related calls were down this year even as officers made 45 fireworks seizures and issued six citations during the enforcement window around July 4. Jones said the drop in citations partly reflected redeployment of enforcement officers to a large concert at Memorial Stadium.
The decrease in citations matters because it shows how large events can reallocate police resources and change enforcement outcomes in neighborhoods during major holiday periods.
Jones reported that the department recorded 316 calls for service on July 4 and about 75 distinct fireworks incidents on that night. “We issued 6 fireworks tickets. We had 45 seizure fireworks seizures this year,” he said. He added that overall 911 calls around the reporting window increased even while direct fireworks calls fell. Jones told the council that several officers assigned to fireworks enforcement were temporarily reassigned to staffing and public-safety duties at the stadium concert, which officials said drew many thousands of people. “We ended up taking officers off of the enforcement detail so that they could go to the concert at Memorial Field,” Jones said.
Council members pressed Jones about the small number of citations given the number of complaints. Jones explained that many confiscations involve juveniles and that the city ordinance and department practice favor seizure and disposal rather than a formal citation for young people. “One of the big ones is usually deals with juveniles,” he said, describing why seizures outnumbered tickets. He also said the department’s bomb team disposes of confiscated fireworks.
Jones told the council the Fire Department handled 31 fire-related calls on July 4 that ranged from brush to residential and dumpster fires; he described an incident where hot fireworks thrown into a dumpster later ignited and damaged a house front.
Council members and staff recommended callers alert the department before expected problem areas arise so enforcement can be planned. Jones and staff also pointed residents who oversee permitted events to contact the department’s event coordinator in advance. Jones closed by asking residents to call early with locations they suspect will be problematic so officers can prioritize those areas.
The council did not take separate formal action on the fireworks briefing at the meeting; the presentation served as an informational after-action report and prompted follow-up questions and commitments to better pre-plan enforcement when large permitted events overlap with holiday enforcement windows.
