RAPID CITY, SD — Rapid City police say the city’s America 250 celebration drew large crowds with few public safety issues, while officers are continuing to adapt to the effects of a recent cyberattack and preparing for additional community events this summer.

During a recent discussion, Rapid City Police Lt. Kelvin Masur and Community Relations Specialist Brendyn Medina said the Independence Day festivities exceeded expectations, bringing visitors from across the country while remaining largely incident-free. Aside from a handful of children briefly becoming separated from their parents and expected traffic congestion as events ended, Medina said there was little for police to report. He noted the Rapid City Fire Department treated only six minor injuries requiring Band-Aids throughout the celebration, crediting extensive planning and a strong law enforcement presence for helping deter potential problems before they developed.

Masur said officers did encounter a small group attempting to provoke confrontations during the celebration, but any significant issues occurred outside the event itself. He praised the cooperation between city departments, saying the America 250 celebration required one of the largest coordinated planning efforts the city has undertaken and ultimately concluded without major incidents.

Police are now turning their attention to Hills Alive, which takes place this weekend in Rapid City. Masur said the annual Christian music festival has historically been a safe event with few problems, adding that the primary concern this year is the expected summer heat. He encouraged attendees to stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, seek shade when needed and watch for signs of heat-related illness among fellow festivalgoers.

Officials also provided an update on the cyberattack that affected Pennington County systems during the Fourth of July weekend. Medina said the attack primarily targeted county systems, but because city and county agencies share resources and work closely together, some city operations were also impacted. Information technology staff took immediate steps to limit the attack’s effects, and while many services have been restored, some systems remain limited as recovery continues.

Masur said the outage forced officers to temporarily return to handwritten reports and citations, a process unfamiliar to many newer officers who have relied almost exclusively on computerized systems. Despite the technological setbacks, Medina said officers continued responding to calls for service while city and county IT staff worked to restore operations. Officials said investigators are still determining the source of the cyberattack and whether any data was compromised.

The department also discussed ongoing efforts to improve conditions at Star Village. Medina said the city plans to demolish 28 condemned garages and sheds, pending City Council approval, after property managers failed to address unsafe structures despite receiving multiple notices over the past two years. He said the deteriorating buildings have become magnets for graffiti and illegal activity and that residents have repeatedly requested their removal.

According to Medina, the city continues providing utility services to Star Village residents because tenants are paying their bills, while the property management company has accumulated more than $500,000 in unpaid obligations to the city. He said officials intend to seek reimbursement from the management company for demolition costs and emphasized that the city remains committed to improving residents’ quality of life through neighborhood programs, crime reduction efforts and infrastructure improvements. Masur added that the city intends to continue pushing forward until the cleanup effort is complete.

Police also reminded drivers not to enter intersections unless they can completely clear them, noting that blocking intersections can create traffic hazards and delay emergency responders. Masur said motorists should remain behind the stop line until traffic is moving and should always turn into the nearest appropriate lane unless lane markings indicate otherwise. Officers said improper turns and blocked intersections remain common traffic issues throughout Rapid City.