As the clock struck midnight and the new year began, the revelry in the streets of Dallas was matched by an uptick in activity at the Dallas Police Department. The night was punctuated by the sounds of celebration, but not all were welcome or legal. According to FOX 4 News, Dallas PD received a staggering total of 1,032 disturbance calls related to New Year's Eve celebrations, with 759 of those calls about celebratory gunfire and another 273 linked to fireworks.
Despite the cacophony of cheers and explosions, no immediate numbers on injuries or citations have been released to the public. Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux expressed appreciation for his department's efforts through the busy evening. "From our 9-1-1 call dispatchers to our patrol officers and investigators, the men and women of the Dallas Police Department worked tirelessly throughout the night. Their professionalism and commitment ensured these calls were answered while life-threatening emergencies remained our top priority," he stated, per FOX 4 News. This was echoed in the concern shown previously, as Chief Comeaux had warned about the dangers of celebratory gunfire and illegal fireworks in a New Year's Eve news conference.
Moving beyond Dallas city limits, the Fort Worth Police Department also had a busy night with more than 77 gun-related calls, although it obtained fewer than the number of calls than Dallas received. This was reported by WFAA. In Plano, the police department noted no fireworks-related injuries, though a house fire occurred on the morning of New Year's Day, believed to be caused by improper disposal of fireworks.
In Dallas, the consequences for engaging in these prohibited New Year's festivities are notably severe. A violation for discharging fireworks can easily result in a fine of up to $2,000. More dangerously, discharging a firearm within city limits carries a fine of up to $4,000, and the individual could potentially face up to one year in jail.
