Hundreds of thousands of people have packed San Diego beaches on this July 4 holiday. Local law enforcement officials say they're keeping a close eye on the crowds. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.
Police expect more than 600,000 people at local beaches. That's actually down from last year because the holiday falls in the middle of the week. Even so, police have doubled their efforts this year. About 400 officers are patrolling the beaches. Police have also doubled the number of command centers in the area. Sergeant Kerry Tom believes these efforts will prevent arrests, but says officers are ready for anything.
Tom: If there are events that do occur whether they be fights or various disputes where there is some enforcement action that needs to be taken, the officers will step in and they will affect those arrests. And we have a command post and everything is set up that we can expeditiously process these people that are arrested.
Tom says officers will also patrol on bikes, ATVs and boats. He says the biggest problems are public drunkenness and parking disputes. Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
