Police to boost July 4 weekend presence at Caspian Avenue beach after resident reports of violence

Atlantic City police will assign extra officers for the July 4 holiday weekend to monitor Caspian Avenue beach and other busy summer locations, the department told the City Council after a resident described violent and dangerous behavior at the beach last year.

Resident Steve Lascarides told the council he witnessed a near-riot at the Caspian Avenue beach on July 4 last year, including adolescents running through the streets and a reported BB gun incident that struck children. "Each year, this seems to get a little worse," Lascarides said. He asked the council for a proactive plan to reduce disorder during the holiday weekend.

Police Chief Sarcos (identified earlier in the meeting as chief of the Atlantic City Police Department) responded that the department will staff extra officers over the holiday weekend and will monitor Caspian Avenue and other high-traffic areas. "It is one of the busiest weekends that we have of the year, so we will surely be keeping a check on Caspian Avenue as well as the other areas of the city that will be bustling for the fourth of July weekend," the chief said.

The exchange was part of the meeting’s public-comment period. Council members thanked the resident for raising the issue and noted that the city and police department coordinate staffing and event planning for major summer holidays. The council did not adopt a new ordinance or formal directive at the meeting; police said the additional officers would be assigned as part of routine holiday staffing.