POLICE CHIEF Amir El-Farra.
By Jim Tortolano/Orange County Tribune
An expanded effort by the Garden Grove Police Department, along with a widespread social media campaign is being credited with a decline in major fireworks problems during the Independence Day holiday in Garden Grove.
Police Chief Amir El-Farra said “All in all, there were no major mishaps” in his report to the city council Tuesday night. He noted that on July 4, 2023 the city received 160 calls for service related to illegal fireworks, compared to 123 in 2024, a 23 percent decrease.
Twenty-nine administrative citations for illegal fireworks were issued, a 20 percent drop from 2023.
A special effort was made to deal with “projectiles” – typically water-filled balloons – hurled at people, especially in the West Grove area.
“We did have four officers assigned specifically to the west side of Garden Grove, where we seemed to have a lot of activity for that type of projectile … and it seemed to make an impact. We only had two calls for service the whole evening,” said El-Farra.
City Councilmember George Brietigam (First District-West Grove) thanked the police for their efforts. “It was way tamer than it was last year,” he said.