No fireworks at Jones Beach for July 4, state says

The Jones Beach July Fourth fireworks display won't take place this summer, state parks officials reiterated Monday - even if Albany restores cuts to the parks budget.

The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation stated in February that it was canceling the 15-year-old show because of a shortage of state park police officers to patrol the event. Monday, the agency issued a statement to reaffirm that decision so potential sponsors and parkgoers can plan accordingly.

The cancellation is tied to ongoing state budget problems that have eliminated a park police training academy class for three years in a row, said Ronald Foley, the agency's regional director. He added that even if additional funds were found, there isn't enough time to set up an academy class to train new officers by July 4.

The number of park police and rangers on Long Island has fallen from 117 in 2004 to about 85 now.

"Because there've not been any graduates for three years, we haven't had any means of dealing with attrition, and the park police force is down and stretched thin," Foley said. "So we don't have enough officers to handle an event like that on what is typically one of the busiest days of the year."

Foley said the agency cannot shift park officers from other regions or obtain help from other police forces on July 4 because that's a day when "everybody else is busy, too."

Donald Lavarge, president of Local 2796, New York State Parks Police Officers Union, said: "We are understaffed. If these large events need to be canceled to protect the public safety and officer safety, we support that."

SEE PHOTOSFireworks at Jones Beach