CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -
WBTV News learned on Wednesday that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department set up two command centers to monitor the events surrounding this year's July 4 celebration.
One command center is at police headquarters, and another in Center City. A heavy police presence could be seen at the Transit Center Wednesday afternoon.
There were metal barricades that divided Tryon Street and the city has put in a number of portable work lights CMPD also has video cameras perched from high above.
In recent years police said they have seen a decline as it relates to the number of arrests on the Fourth of July.
Wednesday evening's activities will be graded carefully, because it is the last big uptown event before September's Democratic National Convention.
"Public safety officials really do a lot of work on this. They know what they are doing. They have this down.
They have enough officers and folks like the Men Who Care who come out and work and nip it in the bud before it blows up to be a problem," said Robert Krumbine, an event planner with Center City Partners.
More than 5,000 people packed
Memorial Stadium Wednesday night to watch the fireworks.
Center City Partners and Presbyterian Hospital put on the
show that featured music, dancing, and plenty of fireworks.
Barbara Coachman says
the celebration is a must for her family, and they've been coming for years.
"We have a good atmosphere and the weather is good
and we have a good crowd so far. Hopefully everybody enjoyed themselves," she
said.
The night did take a
somber tone, just before the show. Organizers called for a moment of
silence to remember the four airmen who died on Sunday in a plane crash, while
fighting the wildfires in South Dakota.
"It's really important
to honor those that served our county and in this case the ultimate sacrifice.
its really important," Charlotte resident Mary Grant said.
