40.5 F
Wrightsville Beach
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Law enforcement agencies increase presence for July Fourth     

Must read

This year’s law enforcement presence around Wrightsville Beach will be larger than ever to keep up with larger crowds expected as, once again, multiple agencies are preparing a joint effort to keep July Fourth celebrations safe in the region.

The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office will run an incident command center with the Wrightsville Beach Police Department out of the Wrightsville Beach Coast Guard Station at Wrightsville Beach’s south end. Both departments will bring more manpower than last year: the Wrightsville Beach Police Department just hired two more officers so it is fully staffed at 25 and the sheriff’s office will add 40 deputies.

“It’s a larger operation,” said Lt. Jerry Brewer, sheriff’s office public information officer. “But it’s what’s needed … [the crowd] grows every year.”

The officers will be spread between Masonboro Island and Wrightsville Beach. The sheriff’s department will also put 10 deputies at Mason Inlet. The inlet, which separates Wrightsville Beach and Figure Eight Island, did not receive police presence until a boy almost died there on July Fourth two years ago, Brewer said.

Because the sheriff’s office is running the command center, which monitors boating activities and Masonboro Island, Wrightsville Beach police will focus just on the island and the surrounding water, police chief Dan House said.

“We’ll be mainly focused on the quality-of-life issues that are generated by alcohol consumption,” he said.

While the county will have the lead on enforcement of Masonboro Island, Wrightsville Beach police will have its police boat in the water throughout the weekend and will target illegal water taxi service coming from the town, which comes at a fine of up to $10,000 if captains don’t have the proper credentials.

The sheriff’s office will also be looking out for both illegal water taxiing and issues created by legal water taxiing. Brewer has seen more legal water taxiing lately because some boat captains have deemed it a worthwhile investment to get licensed, but the practice still creates large enough crowds at public docks to warrant police presence.

“Last year, there were so many people on that [Trails End] boat ramp, they almost sank the dock,” Brewer said.

The deputy at Wynn Plaza will monitor anyone officers bring back from Masonboro Island for illegal activity, like underage drinking. Masonboro Island has become a hub for young people across the East Coast to come party on July Fourth, Brewer said.

He remembers a time when July Fourth on Masonboro Island simply resembled a typical holiday weekend. About three to five years ago, college students — specifically, fraternities — started making Masonboro their July Fourth destination, and word spread through social media.

“Now, we have people coming from colleges in Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia, all over the East Coast,” Brewer said.

In addition to underage drinking, he also anticipates dealing with injuries around Masonboro. Low tide is at 2 p.m. this July Fourth, so the oyster beds will be exposed during the busiest time of day.

To deal with any cuts, scrapes or more serious injuries on Masonboro, the sheriff’s office will have help from a State Medical Assistance Team (SMAT).

Brewer’s advice to those planning to spend July Fourth in the waters around Wrightsville Beach is, “just use some common sense. It will work out much better.”

[email protected]

- Advertisement -spot_img

More articles

- Advertisement -spot_img

Latest articles