photo by: Richard Gwin

In this photo from July 1, 2014, Adam Gower stocks Bartz Brothers fireworks stand along U.S. Highway 40, just outside of Lawrence.

Lawrence will assign more police officers to patrol over Fourth of July weekend in an effort to more strictly enforce the citywide fireworks ban.

The increased patrol is in response to a group of Lawrence residents who went before the City Commission earlier this month, pleading for better enforcement of the ban. Residents cited fireworks’ damage to property and adverse effects on pets, as well as on veterans and others suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Police Chief Tarik Khatib said two extra officers would be added to the July 2 force and four extra on both July 3 and July 4.

Adding the extra officers for the holiday weekend will cost the city an estimated $4,560.

“The Lawrence Police Department will make a more concerted effort to enforce the fireworks ban,” Khatib said in a memo to commissioners last week.

At a May 10 City Commission meeting, the request to stiffen enforcement faced opposition from owners of two fireworks stands, one of whom suggested Lawrence lift the ban during certain times over the Fourth of July weekend.

Commissioner Lisa Larsen and Vice Mayor Leslie Soden discussed the idea of setting aside one day for residents to legally discharge fireworks.

The idea hasn’t been mentioned to Khatib since, he said Thursday.

Though the extra resources may help in enforcement, it’s “hard to predict,” Khatib said. He’s suggesting the same amount of resources be dedicated to enforce the ban for the next several years in order to track data and determine whether it helped.

Last Fourth of July weekend, Lawrence police received 264 fireworks-related calls and issued nine citations for violating the citywide fireworks ban, according to police department data. In 2014, there were 226 calls and 44 citations, though there were fewer confiscations than in 2015.

“I can’t guess,” Khatib said. “July 4 is on a Monday this year instead of a weekend day; sometimes we’re at the mercy of what day of the week it happens on. If it’s a Monday, maybe there will be fewer of other types of calls and we can concentrate more on fireworks.”

Police have historically handled an increase in other types of crimes over July 4 weekend, including fights, alcohol offenses and domestic disturbances. According to Khatib’s memo, the month of July 2015 had the second-most calls of the year to police dispatch, with 3,969.

“It’s difficult to deal with just fireworks calls,” Khatib said. “It’s hard to predict. There’s always something that can come along that will absorb those resources.”

There are other challenges in enforcing the ban, Khatib explained. Namely, it’s the length of time it takes to confiscate and destroy fireworks — an estimated 30-minute process. The process could take longer if a citation is issued or if the violator is a minor. Because officers can’t issue citations to minors, they choose between warning them, confiscating the fireworks or taking them to the Juvenile Detention Center for a full offense and arrest report.

Commissioner Matthew Herbert suggested earlier this month focusing solely on confiscation and not citing people, in an effort to save time. Khatib said Thursday officers could use their discretion on what action to take.

In a breakdown of the cost of extra officers, Khatib notes the average officer’s pay is currently $30 per hour. With overtime, the pay jumps to $45 per hour, and on July 4 — a city holiday — the extra officers would be compensated for both overtime and holiday pay for a total of $75 per hour.

Khatib said in the memo that, while the funds to add the extra officers “is not insignificant,” the “limiting factor” would really be getting officers to work that weekend.

The department will ask for volunteers for the shifts before making it mandatory. Extra officers are already assigned July 4 to be present at the public fireworks display in downtown Lawrence, he said.

Besides the extra officers, Lawrence is planning to boost its communication to residents about the ban.

To address residents’ concerns about veterans, the city will attempt to educate about the negative reactions fireworks can cause in those with PTSD.

Brooklynne Mosley, a U.S. Air Force veteran and commander of VFW post 842 in Lawrence, explained to commissioners May 10 that some veterans over the Fourth of July weekend felt they were “not in a safe space.”