Extra police patrols going Fourth

LYNN – Ah, the Fourth of July, a time of brilliant fireworks, parades, endless parties and fun in the sun.But with all the merriment taking place, area police departments are stepping up patrols to ensure safety over the long holiday weekend.In Lynn, police Lt. Christopher Kelly said the department has a plan in place with extra patrols on staff tonight, Saturday, Sunday and Monday throughout the city.?Calls for service are drastically increased during the holiday weekend with noise complaints, parties and fireworks calls, so the additional units will help those already on,” Kelly said. “We want to be prepared, especially for July 3 with the fireworks display. It could be busy on a regular Sunday night with beautiful weather, so when you add the Fourth of July into the mix, it will be a very, very busy night.”Kelly said on Saturday night, there will be five additional officers on, with three additional officers on overnight. Sunday, there will be 10 extra officers on patrol, with six for the overnight; and, on Monday, three additional officers will be on during the day, as well as at night.Nahant Police Lt. Timothy Hutton said all hands will be on deck with every officer in the department working the holiday weekend.?It?s usually a zoo, so everybody works on the Fourth,” he said. “There is also a zero tolerance policy for alcohol on the beach whether you?re 91 or 21.”With the fireworks display scheduled for July 3 at Baileys Hill Park at 9:15 p.m., Hutton said officers will be paying special attention to the revelers watching the show.?There will be two extra cruisers on, but we do (monitor) it all that night, including responding to fireworks complaints and (keeping an eye on) traffic coming across the Causeway,” he said. “But just like New Year?s Eve and Christmas, people have a tendency to go a little overboard and corrective action will be taken.”In Saugus, Assistant Police Chief Leonard Campanello said, since the town doesn?t have a scheduled fireworks display, he doesn?t expect an influx of visitors. However, the department will still be stepping up patrols on the major roadways – Route 1, Walnut, Main, and Essex streets – as well as conducting neighborhood sweeps for illegal fireworks and noise complaints.?When you couple the warm weather with the holiday weekend, people tend to celebrate,” Campanello said. “Because of that, we will be monitoring the roads to make sure people get home safely.”Revere, like Saugus, does not have its own fireworks display planned, but will increase patrols to stay on the safe side.?The Revere Police will have extra patrols in the Pines Beach area, where there is often some residential partying going on,” said Captain Michael Murphy. “As for traffic, once Friday has passed, it is often a quiet traffic weekend in Revere. That is until Monday evening, when people are returning home.”As always, Murphy said Revere Beach will be monitored by the State Police.