Police In Full Force on Flagler

With two recent gun incidents disturbing the peaceful excitement that is Flagler Ave. in New Smyrna Beach, the police are ever-present no matter where you are beachside. An officer at his post in front of one of the restaurants was quick to say hello with a smile that offered reassurance. With Spring Break in full-swing, the tourist-popular town is loaded with what appears to be college-aged people. This past week, two teenagers were arrested for guns at separate times, the first pulling out a weapon on the beach after a fight and the second for carrying a concealed weapon.

"At first I was concerned seeing so many, many police officers," shared Mary from New Jersey, a woman in her 50s visiting her niece for the week who didn't want to share her last name. "But then it made me feel safer. I visit a few times a year and never see more than one or two officers in this area. I think it's great they're taking it (the recent arrests) seriously and stepping up."

Police officers are stationed either alone or with a partner, human or dog, from the mid-point of Flagler Ave. after the bridge all the way to the beach. At the beach a mobile command unit is parked with numerous police vehicles in the sand. Wearing different uniforms, officers are from local, regional, and state units.