Few issues at Saratoga Days

For the past few years, Saratoga Days has drawn people from near and far to East Bridge Avenue for a Independance Day street dance headlined by the likes of Ned LeDoux, Chancy Williams and, this year, Neal McCoy.

While Saratoga Day is, arguably, one of the biggest parties all year for Saratoga it was relatively uneventful as far as a law enforcement response.

“This was my first year being with the Saratoga Police Department for Saratoga Days. I have participated in the past, I’ve been around and it’s always a great time,” said Chief Mike Morris. “Probably even more fun for me this year being involved the way we were.”

According to Morris, there were very few infractions during the event. A couple cases of a controlled substance for personal use, one or two cases of a minor in possession and two medical responses related to heat. The chief credits the low number of issues to preplanning with the Saratoga Days Committee, the Saratoga Volunteer Fire Department and South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Services (SCWEMS).

“First of all, we looked at past years and some of the things that have happened, some of the concerns the guys (officers) had,” said Morris. “We were able to actually meet with the committee that was in charge of planning Saratoga Days. I’ve got to say, they did an amazing job. Some of the concerns that we had—people getting on the roofs—from a safety aspect, the committee was all over it and helped address that.”

SCWEMS, meanwhile, set up an ambulance and medical area on the east end of Bridge Avenue near Shively Hardware. There were only two medical issues which needed to be addressed with one being related to heat exhaustion and another related to overdrinking.

“We really kind of came up with a plan where everybody knew where they were going to be. The only issue we found internally was communication just with the noise of the concert and trying to get around,” said Morris. “It’s a small enough event that we didn’t need any extra dispatchers. Literally, at one time, there were five people talking back and forth that were in the crowd. Saratoga Police Department, we had extra guys on that day both for covering the event and the town itself.”

Morris said there were at least two other incidents aside from the minor infractions on July 1. The first was reuniting a lost child.

“We had a child get separated from their parents and that was pretty quickly rectified,” said Morris. “Somebody in the crowd realized that the child was not with a parent and they took the child and went and found us and we were able to reunite (them).”

The other concern was an individual who was open-carrying a firearm during the event.

“Technically, with the open container, the street is a serving area at that point in time. You’re not supposed to drink and carry a gun and somebody was openly carrying a gun. Myself and a sheriff’s deputy pulled him aside and voiced our concern,” said Morris. “He was very gracious and went and put his firearm up. I saw him a little bit later and he was having a very good time.”

Even post-concert, said Morris, people were responsible and conscious of their decisions.

“When the concert ended, I was on the west side of Bridge Street and there were a lot of people getting help home,” said Morris. “A lot of designated drivers.”

According to Morris, he believes the number one deterrent to drinking and driving is a law enforcement presence. He said if being at an event makes someone think twice about driving intoxicated, he’d much rather take that approach than make an arrest.

“I just think, overall, it was very well organized. They did a good job of putting it together. I don’t think I’ve ever been around a much happier group of people,” said Morris. “I look forward to next year already.”