Crime & Safety
Ridgewood Police Stepping Up Security for Fourth of July Parade
Governor Christie among the dignitaries in the parade on Thursday.
With several thousand – including the governor – expected to attend the Fourth of July Parade in Ridgewood, village police are taking no chances on security.
"We've looked at all of the different contingencies and we have the appropriate plans in place to address any issues that might arise," Ridgewood Police Chief John Ward said Wednesday.
Ward would not delve into specifics but said the security response will largely resemble the effort seen at the Memorial Day Run.
Additional manpower will be deployed and the county and sheriff's department will also work the Thursday parade route. The county will be deploying its "Skywatch" tower to surveil the route using a series of linked cameras.
Governor Chris Christie's presence is expected to bring a larger crowd than has been seen in previous years, assuming the rain holds off.
"While we are in contact with state police, we take the necessary precautions regardless of who's attending," Ward said of the governor's presence in the first parade division.
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