Full staffing of safety personnel is planned for July 4 through 6 at all La Jolla beaches for the expected rush of visitors and tourists.

A full contingent of San Diego police officers and lifeguards is planned for Friday, July 4 through Sunday, July 6 at all La Jolla beaches to oversee the full contingent of beach visitors for the Independence Day holiday weekend, typically the busiest weekend of the year in La Jolla.

“Fourth of July is … our Super Bowl,” San Diego lifeguard Lt John Maher said at the La Jolla Shores Association meeting June 18. “Everyone works. We’re fully staffed.”

Returning, seasonal guards recently finished necessary training, he said, and every lifeguard station along the coast will be staffed or double-staffed, with extra units on the streets and in the field.

After a half-staffed Memorial Day weekend, San Diego police beach teams will be fully staffed, Officer Tom Cairns said. 

The entire department is going to 12-hour shifts for that weekend, with almost every division across the city of San Diego sending a second watch to the beaches.

Marine Street Beach and The Shores will each have its own beach team this year, which will be “beneficial,” Cairns said.

There will also be motor units in The Shores conducting traffic and parking enforcement for the weekend.

Extra enforcement will begin at dark Thursday, July 3 at Kellogg Park and other locations to prevent people from parking and camping in the park overnight to reserve a prime holiday spot.

“We’re all set for Fourth of July weekend,” Cairns said.

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