Mesquite Police and Fire helped residents ring in the New Year safely

On New Year's Eve and into the early hours of New Year's Day, the City of Mesquite Police and Fire Department proactively helped residents enjoy safe celebrations.

Specialized teams were deployed to enforce laws against the illegal use of fireworks, celebratory gunfire and Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). Mesquite Police Officers confiscated more than 58 pounds of fireworks, seized 3 firearms and made one arrest for discharge of a firearm.

Officers made 11 DWI arrests, including an arrest for intoxication manslaughter following a vehicle crash on IH-20 on Jan. 1 that took the lives of four individuals when they were struck by a drunk driver as they were changing a tire on the highway shoulder. The investigation is ongoing by the Mesquite Police Department Traffic Unit.

The Mesquite Fire Department provided assistance with two minor fires reported at structures related to fireworks. No injuries were reported because of fireworks or gunfire.

"There is still work to be done but we make progress every year by educating residents on how to celebrate safely," City Manager Cliff Keheley said. "Thank you to our Police, Fire and Dispatch personnel as well as the Call Center volunteers who worked over the holiday. We also appreciate the residents who reported incidents."