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Des Moines Police Assemble Fireworks Response Team Ahead of July 4th

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After a park in Des Moines was badly damaged by fireworks over the weekend, city police are forming a fireworks response team. City employees first noticed the damage to the men’s restroom in Riverview Park on Saturday morning during a routine cleanup. They found a broken toilet, a burnt-out firework and other debris. This is the first act of fireworks vandalism in the city this year. Ben Page, Des Moines’ director of parks and recreation, said the restroom had only been open for about three weeks before it happened. “This is really disheartening. We’re upset,” Page said. “These neighbors have worked so hard to build this beautiful park here. They raised money along with our own tax dollars that everyone provides for the parks. Those funds are limited, so we don’t have enough money to just come in and fix things like that.”Related story: Illegal fireworks destroy portable toilets and trash cans in Johnston parksNow the city is offering a $1,000 reward for anyone who provides information on who set off the fireworks.The city of Des Moines has banned the use or explosion of fireworks within city limits.Due to incidents like the one over the weekend, Des Moines police Sergeant Paul Parizek said six officers will be assigned specifically to this issue this holiday.”We’ve put together a fireworks response team to address these issues so we have people who can respond to these calls a little quicker and also focus their efforts on the parks to prevent this type of damage,” he said.TNT Fireworks is selling fireworks in the parking lot of a Walmart just down the street from the 73rd Street. As Des Moines and other nearby cities impose fines for illegal use, the woman who runs the stand encourages customers to learn about the laws. “I just tell them to learn about their city’s laws because they’re different in every city. That way they’re safe. They don’t get in trouble,” Jennifer Midgorden said. Parizek said the department will begin assigning officers to fireworks enforcement starting Wednesday.» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayGet the latest headlines from KCCI

DES MOINES, Iowa —

After a park in Des Moines was severely damaged by fireworks over the weekend, the city police are putting together a fireworks response team.

City employees first noticed the damage to the men’s restroom at Riverview Park during a routine cleanup Saturday morning. They found a broken toilet, a burnt-out firework and other debris.

This is the first act of vandalism in the city this year involving fireworks.

Ben Page, director of Des Moines Parks and Recreation, said the restroom had only been open for about three weeks when this happened.

“This is really disheartening. We’re upset,” Page said. “These neighbors have worked so hard to build this beautiful park here. They’ve raised money along with our own tax dollars that everyone provides for the parks. Those funds are limited, so we don’t have enough money to just come in and fix things like this.”

Related story: Illegal fireworks destroy portable toilet and trash can in Johnston parks

Now the city is offering a $1,000 reward to anyone who provides information about who set off the fireworks.

The city of Des Moines has banned the use and explosion of fireworks within city limits.

Because of incidents like the one over the weekend, Des Moines Police Sergeant Paul Parizek said six officers would be on duty this holiday specifically to address this issue.

“We’ve put together a fireworks response team to address these issues so we have people who can respond to these calls a little quicker and also focus their efforts on the parks to prevent this type of damage,” he said.

TNT Fireworks sells fireworks in the parking lot of a Walmart just off 73rd Street. Since Des Moines and other nearby cities impose fines for illegal use, the woman who runs the stand said she encourages customers to educate themselves on the laws.

“I just tell them to learn about their city’s laws because they’re different in every city. That way they’ll be safe. They won’t get in trouble,” said Jennifer Midgorden.

Parizek said the department will begin assigning officers to fireworks enforcement on Wednesday.

» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play

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