Warm weather is bringing in a “spring surge” of crowds, prompting local law enforcement to be all hands on deck in Jacksonville Beach.
JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — The Jacksonville Beach Police Department is making sure people know they plan to be outside regulating heightened crowds over the weekends as the warm weather and events draw more people to the coast.
In a post Saturday afternoon, the police department shared a photo of a large number of officers gathering, with the caption, “Come enjoy the beach. But if your plans include fighting, damaging property, blocking roads, or breaking the law — don’t. We’re ready.”
Some Jacksonville beachgoers tell us they’re not surprised.
“It’s just heightened security,” Shannon Williams said. “I understand what happened last week, there was like a shooting, so I understand what’s going on. They’re just trying to keep people safe and keep people having a good time.”
Recently, both the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and Jacksonville Beach Police Department have reported dealing with large gatherings of young people, or “teen takeovers,” that have resulted in fights and shootings.
Most recently, five people, ages ranging from 15 to 18, suffered non-life-threatening injuries in a shooting during one Jacksonville Beach takeover in February.
Jacksonville Beach police say they’ll be in a position to handle anything that transpires over the weekends.
Some other beachgoers share a different opinion on the increased number of officers.
“I always feel safe out here,” Eli Collins said. “The only thing makes me feel different is the cops. I feel like they shouldn’t be here, and when there’s a teen takeover—I feel like it’s the parents not doing their job.”
Despite the inevitable spring surge crowd, JBPD tells us they’re fully staffed and reiterating zero tolerance.