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Law enforcement beefing up PCB patrol // PHOTO GALLERY

PANAMA CITY BEACH — As the number of spring breakers increases in Panama City Beach, so does the number of law enforcement officers.

After a cold and quiet start to the season, officers with the Panama City Beach Police Department and Bay County Sheriff’s Office are gearing up for the two busiest weeks of Spring Break, with the largest influx of students expected to arrive this weekend.

“A lot of the condos and motels will be at 100 percent starting this Saturday,” said PCBPD Chief Drew Whitman. “We’re going to probably have 400,000 kids in the next three weeks, and that’s a low estimate.”

PHOTO GALLERY

As officers move to extended 12-hour shifts Friday, PCBPD is calling on mutual aid from BCSO and the Panama City Police Department to help handle crowds every Thursday through Sunday through Spring Break.

The department also will welcome 12 Florida Highway Patrol troopers and several agents from the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco next week.

Whitman said PCBPD and BCSO work “extremely well” together during Spring Break and are using many of the same strategies as they did during the 2013 season.

BCSO has once again set up its mobile booking unit on Thomas Drive to cut down on transport time from the beach to the Bay County Jail on Star Avenue.

“That definitely helps us,” said Whitman, noting transporting inmates from the beach to the jail takes about two hours. “It saves us a lot of time and it keeps our officers on the road where they need to be.”

After a successful trial run last year, PCBPD will be running its ATV beach patrol starting this weekend, something Whitman said serves as a public relations tool for the department.

“Mainly it’s to get down there and let the kids know we’re out there,” he said. “I like showing a strong presence of law enforcement.”

Whitman said additional funding provided by the Bay County Tourist Development Council means their presence on the beach will be bigger this year. 

To aid in Spring Break security, the TDC contributed $100,000 each to PCBPD and BCSO, twice the amount the agencies received last year.

“Spring Break Court” also will return to Panama City Beach this week. Assembled at Majestic Beach Resort, the program offers spring breakers an opportunity to handle court proceedings for misdemeanor offenses before heading back home.

Whitman said he anticipates three steady weeks of college Spring Break, but expects the beach to be a bit quieter by the last week in March.

“I just hope everyone comes down and has a good time and goes home safe,” he said.


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