VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Thousands of people flocked to Volusia County’s beaches and waterways on the Fourth of July and the sheriff’s office was in the crowds with them, especially with the boaters.
“This is the equivalent to Bike Week. They take the boat out two or three times a year and next thing you know, they’re in trouble,” said Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
The sheriff, his team and their partners immersed themselves in the crowds with over a dozen vessels.
“You’re probably going to see upwards of maybe eight to 10 out here just on the intracoastal waterway just in our county and then on the west side of the county we have a footprint out there,” the sheriff said.
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Safety checks were ramped up amid the potential for speeding and drunken boating on one of the busiest and longest boating days of the year.
News 6 rode with the sheriff’s office on its new boat that is decked out with new technology.
“Infrared cameras, at nighttime we could see what’s coming in here to the intracoastal waterway off the ocean. So if there’s smugglers, we can look for that,” Chitwood said.
Sgt. Brodie Hughes, who captained the boat, said they can now reach more distance.
“It gives us the ability to when somebody goes off shore, we can go out if they get into distress out there, we have the capability to go out there and help with them,” he said.
Hughes said on a days like the Fourth of July and the weekend following, the new boat helps them connect to their network keeping an eye on the crowds — both on the water and up on the Air One chopper.
“Our hurdle today is just keeping everybody safe,” Hughes said.
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