Cda Doesn’t Need More Fireworks

Coeur d’Alene came within a whisker of a national black eye on the Fourth of July - as outside gang bangers, a handful of skinheads and drunks almost overwhelmed police.

As evening fell on Independence Day, officers from three agencies were busy breaking up fights along the Coeur d’Alene waterfront - from Tubbs Hill and McEuen Field on the east, down Sherman Avenue, to City Park on the west.

At one point, two dozen black and Hispanic youths pushed and taunted two mouthy white males who luckily were able to beat a retreat toward a family concert crowd in City Park. Elsewhere, a young man was stabbed. A Coeur d’Alene policeman was punched in the mouth. Goofballs on Tubbs Hill shot bottle rockets and worse at boaters anchored along the north shore waiting for the Jaycees fireworks display.

Some say the situation was out of control for a time.

The Lake City needs to take steps to prevent the turmoil from recurring - not only next summer when July 4 falls on a Friday, giving troublemakers a whole weekend to cause mischief, but also now. If it doesn’t, punks will rule the waterfront, chasing off tourists and local families.

Commendably, Kootenai County authorities are analyzing flaws in their reaction to the recent holiday. The sheriff’s office, Coeur d’Alene Police Department and Idaho State Police plan to develop a coordinated response - like their unified approach to this year’s floods - which will eliminate duplication and free up officers.

Local authorities have cracked down on the few young racists causing trouble downtown and are taking a zero-tolerance approach toward gang members who visit Coeur d’Alene. Said Police Chief Dave Scates: “We can’t stand around and be Mr. Nice Guy to those guys. We don’t have time to put into it, and it doesn’t do any good.”

The community must do its part, too.

Merchants and organizers should supplement law enforcement by hiring private security for special events, freeing police to concentrate on crowd control and night duty when lawless deeds increase. The ban against booze and beer in public areas along the waterfront should be enforced strictly. And taxpayers should be careful not to scrimp on police protection.

Coeur d’Alene’s raucous Fourth of July had silver linings, too. First, most people enjoyed the town’s parade, band concert and fireworks. Second, no one was injured seriously. Finally, the trouble provided a foretaste of what’s ahead if something isn’t done to regain control.

Coeur d’Alene may not get another warning.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = D.F. Oliveria/For the editorial board