While many people enjoy time away from work to celebrate Labor Day weekend Sept. 4-6, Anna Maria Island law enforcement officials will be upping staff levels.
“Extra officers for extra people,” Manatee County Sheriff’s Sgt. Brett Getman told The Islander Aug. 26.
MCSO deputies patrol Anna Maria and they won’t be the only department with an increased holiday presence.
Bradenton Beach Police Detective Sgt. Lenard Diaz and Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said their departments will increase staffing for the “end of summer” weekend.
“We expect a busy weekend as usual for holidays,” Diaz said.
The extra eyes and ears will help law enforcement ensure safety with increased traffic enforcement and “other avenues of issues, like alcohol on the beach” and grilling outside designated areas, Tokajer said.
Alcohol is never allowed on the island’s beaches, Diaz said.
The MCSO also will have mounted patrols on Coquina and Cortez beaches in Bradenton Beach, Getman said.
Only so many vehicles and people can fit on the 7-mile stretch of AMI and law enforcement officials recommend people who want to spend time here during the holiday plan to arrive early and bring patience: Patience for slow-moving traffic, patience for finding parking spaces and patience for pedestrians.
When it comes to parking, Tokajer said motorists should be sure to park with the flow of traffic and also check parking signs so they “don’t have a parking ticket when they leave.”
Diaz cautioned saving parking spaces is illegal and doing so “will result in removal from the beach.”
Manatee County Beach Patrol also will have extra staffing on duty throughout the weekend, Chief Joe Westerman told The Islander Aug. 24.
Crowd levels this summer have been pretty high on the beaches but everyone has been pretty safe, he said.
Westerman offered tips for beachgoers to enjoy a safe day of sand and surf, including:
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated;
- Swim in front of lifeguard towers;
- Watch your kids and don’t rely on others to do so;
- Swim to your known capabilities and don’t attempt to show off;
- “Leave only your footprints” and remove all trash and other items you brought to the beach, knock down all sand sculptures and fill in all holes at the end of each beach day.
Warning of hidden dangers in the water, Westerman cautioned beachgoers to use caution where waves are concerned.
“People may look out and think it’s fun to play in the waves,” Westerman said, but waves can signify rip currents that pose dangers to even strong swimmers.
If caught in a rip current, Westerman said swimmers should not try to fight it or swim toward the beach, but must instead “break the grip of the rip” by swimming parallel to the shore.