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Watsonville reports fewer July 4 calls after targeted fireworks enforcement and drone deployments
Summary
City public-safety officials reported an enforcement operation over July 4 that included a dedicated fireworks investigations unit, drone deployments and coordinated partner actions; police and fire said they issued 36 citations (about $41,000), recovered roughly 3,000 pounds of illegal fireworks and executed 11 residential search warrants.
Acting Fire Chief Corey Schaffer and Captain Fulghoni presented the city's post-July 4 fireworks enforcement report to the council on Sept. 9, describing a coordinated operation that paired police and fire resources with drones and regional partners.
City staff said the department created a fireworks investigations unit (one sergeant, two officers and a detective repurposed for the effort) that operated full time from June 1 through July 5. The city also deployed multiple trained drone teams for nighttime enforcement and situational awareness. Over the enforcement period the department reported writing 11 residential search warrants, recovering approximately 2,800'3,000 pounds of illegal fireworks, seizing six firearms and about half a kilo of narcotics.
The departments reported 36 citations issued tied to fireworks enforcement (11 of those citations attributed directly to drone teams) for an estimated total of about $41,000 in fines. According to staff, calls for service over the July 4 week and on the day itself decreased compared with previous years (the presentation described a 36% reduction for the week and 31% reduction for the July 4 overnight period compared with recent years).
Councilmembers praised the interdepartmental effort and asked for follow-up accounting on citations collected and how fine revenue will be used. Councilmember Ari Parker commented that neighborhood feedback suggested enforcement was effective in reducing activity in District 7. Staff said they will work with finance to report back on fines collected and on appeals that may reduce net receipts.
Why this matters: the report frames the city's approach to illegal fireworks as a public-safety and community-health priority. Beyond fines, the departments emphasized seizure and prevention, partnerships with Cal Fire and other county teams, and outreach to vendors and nonprofits that run permitted "safe and sane" fireworks booths.
