Charlotte-Mecklenburg police will again have heightened security for Fourth of July celebrations in uptown Charlotte.
The 9:30 p.m. fireworks display is expected to draw thousands to Memorial Stadium and to uptown bars and entertainment venues.
Some previous uptown celebrations have been marred by sporadic violence. Police arrested dozens one year as bands of youths blocked sidewalks and engaged in rolling brawls.
At a news conference Thursday at police headquarters, Deputy Chief Harold Medlock declined to say how many officers would be assigned to uptown crowd control. However, he said, the number would be sufficient to maintain safety.
“We expect that everyone will maintain a reasonable behavior so that everyone that night will have a nice, safe evening…” he said.
Medlock said CMPD would have stepped-up patrols not only in center city but in neighborhoods as well, beginning Saturday evening. The increased presence will remain, he said, until the celebrations have ended.
Captain Pete Davis said officers also would enforce the midnight curfew for youth ages 16 and under.
“Last year we had approximately 6 violations,” he said. “The months of June and July is the time where we see most occurrences of these curfew violations.”
Youths are allowed to stay out past midnight only if they are with a parent or in the presence of an adult age 18 or older. Davis said parents who allow their children to break curfew may be subject to citations.
Police said residents should call 311 to report noise and fireworks violations so that 911 emergency lines remain open.
