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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Preparedness Keeps The Peace

No one can blame you if you’re reluctant to attend another Fourth of July celebration along Coeur d’Alene’s waterfront. Gang-bangers, drunks and spoilsports who shot fireworks into a crowd of 10,000 combined last year to ruin the holiday atmosphere.

Yet, there’s good reason to believe this year’s festivities in the Lake City will be different, that parents can take their children to City Beach for a picnic and a sterling fireworks show without worrying they’ll be in harm’s way.

The Coeur d’Alene Police Department, with considerable help from the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department and Idaho State Police, will be ready for troublemakers this weekend. Police Chief Dave Scates’ department is determined not to repeat staffing and logistical mistakes that made last year’s crowds difficult to control.

Coeur d’Alene police have proved themselves several times already.

Several years ago, Lake City police officers quickly restored order downtown after a black Spokane teenager was pushed through a Sherman Avenue window and young gangsters threatened to retaliate. Last year, the department squelched some skinheads who were causing mischief in the central business district.

Police frustrated troublemakers by taking a no-tolerance approach to their petty crimes then; they plan to do the same thing Friday.

In front-page stories in Coeur d’Alene’s two daily newspapers this week, the department has served notice that its officers will strictly enforce city ordinances against littering, bicycling, Rollerblading and skateboarding downtown and possession of fireworks of any kind at city parks, parking lots, beaches and docks.

Mischief-makers will face a combined police force of 80 strong, including a cadre of ISP officers trained in crowd control. The three agencies began analyzing what went wrong immediately after last year’s celebration and have prepared for nine months to prevent a recurrence.

“Our intention is not to intimidate anybody but to have the resources available to prevent potential problems before they start,” said Coeur d’Alene police Capt. Ken Timmons.

“Ultimately, the bottom line is: I want to have enough officers to handle a situation, should it arise, without getting the public hurt or an officer hurt.”

In a way, it’s ironic, and sad, that a command team of police officers is needed to protect a beautiful resort area like Coeur d’Alene on Independence Day. But that’s the way things are in these trouble-prone ‘90s.

Here’s hoping Coeur d’Alene area authorities find little of the trouble they’ve prepared so well to handle.

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