SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
Local officials said a combination of hype and extra staffing of emergency and law enforcement personnel contributed to making New Year’s Eve a very quiet night.
Orange County Sheriff’s Sgt. Gus De La Torre said his entire force of deputies was on duty that night, as well as mounted officers and reserves.
“We were preparing for the unknown,” De La Torre said. “We weren’t really too sure what would happen.”
He said the hype, along with prices of New Year’s Eve celebrations, made many people more cautious and frugal than usual.
Such New Year’s Eve staples as block parties, complaints about loud celebrations and streets filled with drunk drivers were noticeably lacking this year.
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