SJPD’s Summary of Cinco de Mayo Weekend Operations 2025

MEDIA ADVISORY 

The San José Police Department is committed to keeping our city safe, not just by showing up, but by showing up where it counts. This past weekend, we proudly stood shoulder to shoulder with residents, families, and visitors during San José’s Cinco de Mayo celebrations—a tradition that continues to bring people together in the heart of our city.

San José’s streets were filled with energy as families, performers, and local organizations came together to celebrate a long-standing cultural tradition. SJPD was proud to take part—not just in uniform, but in the moment itself. Officers marched in the parade and walked alongside the community, reflecting our shared commitment to both public safety and civic pride. That spirit is captured in the accompanying photo.

 

As always, SJPD took proactive steps to ensure a safe and smooth weekend. Traffic maps were shared well in advance to help residents plan their routes, and Officers were strategically positioned across the city. Our message throughout the weekend was clear: while celebration is welcome, illegal and reckless behavior would not be tolerated.

Between Friday and Sunday (May 2–4), SJPD responded to over 1,570 calls for service, while also managing the added demands of the holiday weekend. Officers addressed a variety of incidents, including sideshow activity, reckless driving, intoxication, and weapons violations. As part of their proactive enforcement in high-traffic areas, Officers seized 15 illegally possessed firearms from individuals in and around Cinco de Mayo hotspots. These seizures underscore the importance of our presence during large-scale events and our ongoing commitment to preventing violence before it occurs.

“Cinco de Mayo weekend in San José is an expression of culture and community, and we’re proud to be part of it,” said Chief of Police Paul Joseph. “While the vast majority came to celebrate peacefully, our officers remained vigilant, removing over a dozen illegally possessed firearms from our streets to ensure that families could enjoy the weekend without fear.”

From May 2–4, SJPD recorded the following activity from impacted areas:

• Total Felony Arrests: 34
• Total Misdemeanor Arrests: 35
• Total Warrant Arrests: 23
• Total Vehicle Impounds: 10
• Total Traffic Citations Issued: 257
• Total Firearms Seized: 15

 

 

Managing Disruptions and Traffic Diversions

While the permitted events were peaceful and family-focused, several disruptive incidents occurred outside the scope of the official celebrations.

To address public safety concerns and ease gridlock, SJPD deployed targeted traffic diversions in key areas. These were implemented only on Sunday when crowd behavior or traffic conditions demanded immediate action and were lifted as soon as the situation stabilized. Real-time updates were provided through our social media platforms to keep the public informed.

In addition, the SJPD Real Time Intelligence Center was instrumental in deploying Officers to key areas throughout the city to curb potential criminal activities that would have otherwise expended additional resources.

SJPD will continue deploying additional resources on Monday, May 5th to ensure safe celebrations in San José.

We appreciate the many residents, business owners, and community organizations who worked with us throughout the weekend. Our role goes beyond enforcement—it’s about building trust and helping create a safe environment where everyone feels welcome. We are honored to be part of San José’s cultural celebrations and remain committed to keeping them safe for all.

We look forward to building on this year’s success and ensuring future celebrations are even more secure and inclusive.