Rapid City police respond to 279 calls for service on New Year's - KOTA Territory News

Rapid City police respond to 279 calls for service on New Year's Eve

Update:

Rapid City Police kept busy New Year's Eve.  They responded to 279 calls for service, many of which were related to intoxicated people, fireworks and disturbances.

Eighteen people were arrested, five for DUI. There were no alcohol related crashes.

(Original story)

New Year's Eve brings a lot of people into the bars -- and into the streets.

That's why Rapid City Police stepped up patrols Monday night.
 
The department put extra DUI enforcement officers in patrol cars to track down drunk drivers.

There weren't any checkpoints set up, but officers patrolled the streets, looking for the signs of intoxicated drunk drivers.

On New Year's Eve a year ago, the department arrested five people for DUI.

That's about on par with a normal weekend night, and officers say it's because they also see an increase in other types of calls.
 
"It's just being able to have the time to make the traffic stops to find" drunk drivers, said Officer  Brian Fletcher. "You definitely see an increase in assaults and fights and stuff like that. Any time alcohol is involved, you're going to see an increase in most all the calls."
 
The department had so many extra officers out on the street Monday that they didn't have enough cars for everyone.