Huntington Beach’s July 4 Response

Remember Fearless Fosdick, the comic strip cop who saved people from eating the poison beans by shooting them between the eyes!

The Huntington Beach Police Department has learned well from the memorable comic strip detective. When they see people drinking a can of beer in the morning in their frontyard they realize that these people will become criminals later in the day, so they arrest them before they can commit serious crimes.

Regarding The Times articles about the July 4 police response in Huntington Beach, what is the cost of arresting, transporting, booking and jailing 575 persons? Apparently the vast majority of the persons were arrested under the ordinance prohibiting drinking in a public place, which is interpreted by the Police Department to mean any place that is open to public view or accessible to the public. Is everybody in Huntington Beach who steps into their frontyard with a can of beer in their hand subject to arrest? The answer seems to be yes.

How can the police, with straight faces, say they are underfunded when they waste money on these inane arrests? And on top of the cost of making a large number of needless arrests, what will be the cost to the city of defending and settling numerous wrongful arrest cases? Clearly the City Council of Huntington Beach ought to amend the overly broad city ordinance to prevent its use by the police, who chose to arrest people that are merely enjoying a holiday in their frontyard.

SPENCER R. ALTER

Huntington Beach

* It’s a Catch-22 situation for the Huntington Beach Police Department. The exemplary job they performed maintaining order and safety in their city over the July 4 holiday has been overshadowed, to a degree, by the arrest of three people drinking beer in their frontyard.

One only has to revisit previous years’ news coverage of the riotous events that occurred in Huntington Beach and reflect on this year’s peace and public safety. Law enforcement is not an exact science. Whenever the human element is introduced into the picture, different perceptions of the officers’ actions emerge. Since the public in general is not present during the events, we rely on the news media to provide us with the stories. As we all know, there are different views to any incident, even when personally witnessed. Any improprieties that may have occurred by the officers will be appropriately dealt with by the chief of police.

Those who voiced displeasure with the Police Department could better direct their dissatisfaction at the unruly troublemakers that serve no useful purpose other to be a blight on society.

DAVID R. HELSEL

Orange

* Re your editorial, “Lessons From a Rowdy Fourth,” July 9:

For several years now, Independence Day in Huntington Beach has been marred by riotous young people stomping through the downtown area late in the evening. Our community, known for its beautiful beaches, 92-year-old Fourth of July parade and patriotic fireworks show, was determined to stop these hooligans from disrupting Independence Day celebrations.

The Police Department received a loud and clear mandate from citizens and government officials to take the necessary steps to break this cycle of violence. After meeting with numerous community groups, we formulated an action plan that called for extensive barricading of the downtown area and aggressive enforcement action by our officers. We put that plan into place and trained our officers to execute it. The results were a safe and sane Fourth of July in Huntington Beach. There were several reasons for this: The media coverage detailing our plans certainly helped; the barricades prevented an overwhelming number of people from congregating downtown; and our policy of zero tolerance toward violations of law set a no-nonsense tone throughout the day.

We have received hundreds of calls and letters thanking us for our actions. People have told us this was the first time they had been able to enjoy the Fourth of July in downtown Huntington Beach.

I am truly proud of the efforts put forth by the employees of the Huntington Beach Police Department, the Orange County deputy sheriffs and California Highway Patrol officers who assisted us. Wherever I went on the Fourth of July, I saw people working professionally, with great dedication and skill. In particular, I am grateful for our police officers who arrested 550 people with an absolute minimum use of force. They stood tall in the face of great adversity. They accepted the challenge of making a difference within our community--and they did. They are a credit to the law enforcement profession.

Understandably, not everyone would be happy with the manner with which we enforced the law on the Fourth of July. Legitimate public debate has taken place regarding the necessity for some of our arrests. The Police Department does not take the subject of depriving someone of their liberty lightly. Prior to the Fourth of July, we researched the legality of making alcohol-related arrests on private property that was open to public access. We feel, based on case law, that these arrests were lawful.

As we evaluate our performance in 1996 with an eye toward the July 4, 1997, we will fine-tune and improve our tactical response. Our goal will remain the same: to ensure that all citizens can enjoy a safe and sane July 4 in Huntington Beach.

RONALD E. LOWENBERG

Police chief

Huntington Beach

* In the four or five years that I have celebrated the Fourth of July in downtown Huntington Beach, I have seen why the large police presence has increased. I remember the bonfires on Olive Street in 1993, and the fights and vandalism that accompanied the seemingly endless crowds in 1994. Last year was comparably peaceful, but punctuated by burning trash cans, and, as I learned later, a murder. And this year, as well as in all years previous, the quick pop of firecrackers and booms of larger explosives were everywhere.

The job police undertake in keeping watch for fights, weapons and explosives on July 4 is a large one. This is not made any easier by the largely unpopular laws concerning the consumption of alcohol, when and where bike riding is permitted, and other infractions committed by people who consider themselves “lawful.”

However, myself and others have found out that what one thinks means little, and how police downtown treat someone who lights off an M-80 is often the same as people who take part in a seemingly harmless water war with garden hoses.

“If you want to come down here and be a punk, we’re going to put you in jail,” says Lt. Dan Johnson of the Huntington Beach Police Department. Seems fair enough, and anyone who has spent the Fourth of July in downtown Huntington Beach will never claim police do not live up to this statement. However, myself and many other seemingly lawful revelers have become acquainted with the police by being far less than “punks.”

I’m sure many Times readers were shocked to read about the two men arrested for holding beers while assembling a Ping-Pong table and the lady put under arrest for asking if anyone wanted a beer. Frankly, I wasn’t surprised at all, as in the past I have observed many such questionable arrests and other such overly enthusiastic methods of law enforcement in Huntington Beach.

On July 4, 1994, I remember a party-goer dragged off in handcuffs because part of his foot was off the property where a barbecue was held, and he was holding a beer.

The events reported by The Times July 5 are only the tip of the iceberg. The “crackdown” wasn’t only directed at criminals, and I wonder how many law-abiding people have decided that Huntington Beach just isn’t worth bothering with on July 4.

BILL FIELD

Westminster