Early Morning Incidents
Missoula Police Department (MPD) and Missoula County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) responded to multiple incidents through the early morning. The most prevalent were wildland fires, reported four times in the Heart of Missoula, and multi-vehicle accidents around Farviews / Pattee Canyon where injury was noted in three separate reports. Other notably frequent incidents indicated by the data involved three assaults in Riverfront and numerous traffic-related offenses, including driving under the influence and moving violations in the Heart of Missoula.
Mid-Morning to Early Afternoon
Into the mid-morning and early afternoon, the frequency and variety of incidents increased visibly. The MPD was alerted to several wildland fires, not only in the initial hotspot of Heart of Missoula but spreading to areas such as Captain John Mullan and Moose Can Gully. Fireworks, which were expected given the date, punctuated the day, particularly in Franklin to the Fort and River Road neighborhoods. Disturbances and the need for welfare checks appeared predominantly in Westside and Heart of Missoula.
Evening Activities
As evening set in, the tempo of fireworks-related calls rose sharply, especially in combating neighborhoods to Franklin to the Fort, River Road, and Grant Creek. The reports of injuries due to accidents climbed, reflecting a combination of festive activities and crowd volume escalating situations. Multiple handle requests for personnel to be removed from premises spanned across River Road, Westside, and Heart of Missoula. Missoula did not step back in addressing other serious offenses such as assaults with weapons which were concentrated largely in the Westside.
General Observations
Another significant observation from the data shows Westside leading in requests for welfare checks, disturbances, and various forms of assistance, including medical standby. Comprehensive crime was observed across the board in the city, with Missoula Police handling the bulk of incidents paired with strategic involvement from the Sheriff’s Office, particularly where jurisdiction overlapped.