This is a Public Service | Drunk driver lost on beach and runs out of time! @ThisisaPublicService | Uploaded May 2023 | Updated October 2024, 11 hours ago.
Sheriff’s Administration OfficeTelephone 386-736-5961(Fax) 386-943-7064
386-736-5961 (DeLand)386-323-0151 (Daytona)386-860-7030 (Deltona)386-423-3301 (New Smyrna Beach)386-668-3830 (DeBary)
Director Andrew Ethridge aethridge@volusia.org
Questions and commentsBeachSafety@volusia.org
386-239-7873
DeSantis signs legislation that gives sheriff law enforcement power over the beaches
Sheldon Gardner
Law enforcement on Volusia County's beaches is officially in the hands of Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1595 on Thursday, which says that only sheriffs have the authority to maintain law enforcement operations in unincorporated areas of a county (such as the beaches).
Major shift in law enforcement
For years Volusia County government's Beach Safety division officers have provided law enforcement services on Volusia County's coast, but now their law enforcement capacity has ended.
In a Thursday night Facebook post, the sheriff's office wrote that deputies and Beach Safety officers have already been working together closely in anticipation of the law taking effect and that today, "the transition becomes official now that the bill has been signed into law."
Beach Safety will continue to manage the beach and provide lifeguard and emergency medical services to beachgoers while county sheriff's deputies will take care of law enforcement.
Feud sparked
The law change brought some acrimony between Beach Safety and the sheriff's office over key issues such as whether public safety would be at risk if the law passed. Each Beach Safety officer is triple-certified as a lifeguard, EMT, and law enforcement officer.
Beach Safety union spokesman Bryon White and Sheriff Mike Chitwood shared dueling editorials on the issue in the News-Journal. White called the beach takeover issue a "power grab" by the sheriff and accused him of lobbying for the legislation. Chitwood denied that and said the change will make Volusia beaches safer.
In anticipation of the law change, the sheriff's office has already been patrolling county beaches.
Beach recovery:Over 1 million cubic yards of sand coming to Volusia beaches over the next two years
The sheriff is hiring Beach Safety officers. The sheriff's office estimated up to 20 would transfer over to the sheriff's office, but it's not clear if they would be reassigned to the beach.
Meanwhile, the county is dealing with a lifeguard shortage.
The sheriff's office has 12 deputies on the day shift and two deputies assigned to the beach and two sergeants in the area for the night shift, according to sheriff's office spokesman Andrew Gant. On both shifts the sheriff's office will add more deputies if the need arises.
The county typically had 20-24 Beach Safety officers patrolling the beaches in the day during the summer and three officers at night, Beach Safety Director Andy Ethridge told the County Council in April.
Ethridge couldn't be reached for comment for this story.
Moving forward
Deputy Beach Safety Ocean Rescue Chief Tammy Malphurs opposed the bill at the House Judiciary Committee meeting on April 11. But on Friday she said the focus now among Beach Safety employees is moving forward.
"Everyone seems to be very optimistic ... and we seem to be excited for what the future holds for us," she said.
The Beach Safety employees who were law enforcement officers don't carry a gun anymore, and their uniforms will change at some point. They are now lifeguards with certification as EMTs. They are responsible for ocean rescues and medical emergencies on the beach. They are also still responsible for beach driving and access, and other aspects of beach management.
Ethridge raised concerns in April about the transition, including about how safe the public would be with the loss of lifeguards.
Malphurs said there's no immediate concern about public safety.
"Especially going into this weekend, we are fully staffed as far as lifeguards," she said.
1st Amendment to the Constitution
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
The right to petition government for redress of grievances is the right to make a complaint to, or seek the assistance of, one's government, without fear of punishment or reprisals.
Institute for Justice is a nonprofit, public interest law firm. Their mission is to end widespread abuses of government power and secure the constitutional rights that allow all Americans to pursue their dreams.
ij.org
The Innocence Project works to free the innocent, prevent wrongful convictions, and create fair, compassionate, and equitable systems of justice for everyone.
innocenceproject.org
If you want to help support my activism:
https://cash.app/$thisisapublicservice
Sheriff’s Administration OfficeTelephone 386-736-5961(Fax) 386-943-7064
386-736-5961 (DeLand)386-323-0151 (Daytona)386-860-7030 (Deltona)386-423-3301 (New Smyrna Beach)386-668-3830 (DeBary)
Director Andrew Ethridge aethridge@volusia.org
Questions and commentsBeachSafety@volusia.org
386-239-7873
DeSantis signs legislation that gives sheriff law enforcement power over the beaches
Sheldon Gardner
Law enforcement on Volusia County's beaches is officially in the hands of Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1595 on Thursday, which says that only sheriffs have the authority to maintain law enforcement operations in unincorporated areas of a county (such as the beaches).
Major shift in law enforcement
For years Volusia County government's Beach Safety division officers have provided law enforcement services on Volusia County's coast, but now their law enforcement capacity has ended.
In a Thursday night Facebook post, the sheriff's office wrote that deputies and Beach Safety officers have already been working together closely in anticipation of the law taking effect and that today, "the transition becomes official now that the bill has been signed into law."
Beach Safety will continue to manage the beach and provide lifeguard and emergency medical services to beachgoers while county sheriff's deputies will take care of law enforcement.
Feud sparked
The law change brought some acrimony between Beach Safety and the sheriff's office over key issues such as whether public safety would be at risk if the law passed. Each Beach Safety officer is triple-certified as a lifeguard, EMT, and law enforcement officer.
Beach Safety union spokesman Bryon White and Sheriff Mike Chitwood shared dueling editorials on the issue in the News-Journal. White called the beach takeover issue a "power grab" by the sheriff and accused him of lobbying for the legislation. Chitwood denied that and said the change will make Volusia beaches safer.
In anticipation of the law change, the sheriff's office has already been patrolling county beaches.
Beach recovery:Over 1 million cubic yards of sand coming to Volusia beaches over the next two years
The sheriff is hiring Beach Safety officers. The sheriff's office estimated up to 20 would transfer over to the sheriff's office, but it's not clear if they would be reassigned to the beach.
Meanwhile, the county is dealing with a lifeguard shortage.
The sheriff's office has 12 deputies on the day shift and two deputies assigned to the beach and two sergeants in the area for the night shift, according to sheriff's office spokesman Andrew Gant. On both shifts the sheriff's office will add more deputies if the need arises.
The county typically had 20-24 Beach Safety officers patrolling the beaches in the day during the summer and three officers at night, Beach Safety Director Andy Ethridge told the County Council in April.
Ethridge couldn't be reached for comment for this story.
Moving forward
Deputy Beach Safety Ocean Rescue Chief Tammy Malphurs opposed the bill at the House Judiciary Committee meeting on April 11. But on Friday she said the focus now among Beach Safety employees is moving forward.
"Everyone seems to be very optimistic ... and we seem to be excited for what the future holds for us," she said.
The Beach Safety employees who were law enforcement officers don't carry a gun anymore, and their uniforms will change at some point. They are now lifeguards with certification as EMTs. They are responsible for ocean rescues and medical emergencies on the beach. They are also still responsible for beach driving and access, and other aspects of beach management.
Ethridge raised concerns in April about the transition, including about how safe the public would be with the loss of lifeguards.
Malphurs said there's no immediate concern about public safety.
"Especially going into this weekend, we are fully staffed as far as lifeguards," she said.
1st Amendment to the Constitution
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
The right to petition government for redress of grievances is the right to make a complaint to, or seek the assistance of, one's government, without fear of punishment or reprisals.
Institute for Justice is a nonprofit, public interest law firm. Their mission is to end widespread abuses of government power and secure the constitutional rights that allow all Americans to pursue their dreams.
ij.org
The Innocence Project works to free the innocent, prevent wrongful convictions, and create fair, compassionate, and equitable systems of justice for everyone.
innocenceproject.org
If you want to help support my activism:
https://cash.app/$thisisapublicservice
