DES MOINES, Iowa -- The Des Moines Police Department is seeing a huge increase in fireworks complaints.
The Department's taken almost 700 calls so far this year--nearly 600 in the first three weeks of June. There were fewer than 200 complaints in all of 2019.
"We can buy them, so we're going to use them--and it appears people are a little more comfortable doing that--well, your neighbors aren't always so comfortable with that. People also know that they are banned in the city and there is a penalty, so I think they're reaching out to us a little bit more" says Sgt. Paul Parizek.
He says the Department wants to know if the increase in complaints, and use, it's being driven by the COVID-19 cancellations of public fireworks display.
"Because there aren't those commercial displays like there has been in years past that people are taking it upon themselves to entertain their neighborhoods. But, you kinow, if you don't invite all your neighbors and everybody's not on board you're going to have those problems with complaints" he says.
Parizek says department took more than 400 calls in nine days between June 15th and the 24th.
"That is a lot of (police) resources that you're taking away from other issues within the city. It's frustrating to us because it does take us ahile to respond, and there are people out there who deserve that response and deserve out attention, It spreads us pretty thin" he says.
It is illegal to use fireworks in Des Moines city limits. Violators face a potential fine of more than $600.