DEWEY BEACH, Del. - The Dewey Beach Police Department will soon patrol the streets with marked cars only. The department decided to make the switch from a mix of disguised vehicles and marked vehicles, to only having marked vehicles on patrol.
Dewey Beach Police Lieutenant Cliff Dempsey, explained to CoastTV, "Our goal is to have a more high-profile presence with our police vehicles, and we want the public and visitors to know that we are out on the streets all the time." "Everywhere they look, they should see Dewey Beach Police cars, especially during the evening hours."
Carlos Centeno, who works in Dewey Beach, is happy about the department's decision to patrol in marked vehicles.
"It's more comforting knowing that there is a police officer near by," explained Centeno.
Some have mixed feelings about the change, like Roberto Marin-Landa. Marin-Landa lives and works in Dewey Beach. While Marin-Landa likes seeing police cars out while working, he thinks disguised cars are beneficial.
"In my opinion, when they're disguised, the police officers are more likely to not be noticed, and when they do witness crimes, they have a better chance of stopping them."
Disguised cars will be used by Dewey Beach Police's special forces.