NANTUCKET – The Nantucket police department say they will be stepping up patrols ahead of the holiday weekend, and say they will not tolerate any out of control behavior.
The move comes as officials on the island try to rein in disorderly conduct at the annual July 4th party on Nobadeer Beach. An estimated 8,000 people celebrated the Fourth at the beach last year.
“We had three vehicles that were destroyed by people jumping on them, throwing things at them,” said William Pittman, the police chief on Nantucket. “The beach was totally destroyed. It looked like a plane had crashed on the beach there was so much junk.”
Additional state police troopers will be on Nantucket this weekend, assisting local officers at all town beaches.
Pittman said there were several people who intoxicated to the point where they could walk and had to be taken to the hospital. His department also responded to several fights.
“We made a couple dozen arrests at that point in time but we were very limited in our abilities and our man power last year and we didn’t have any support,” Pittman said. “But this year that is going to be different.”
Pittman would not release the exact number of state troopers that will be on the island but did say their presence would be significant.
The town’s board of selectmen made the decision to get outside assistance for the holiday after receiving several complaints.
Pittman said there were several reports of strangers entering residents homes, and backyards being used as bathrooms. There was even a report of a couple fornicating in a backyard.
“From our observation the biggest percentage of the trouble comes from what we call the day-trippers. There’s a bunch of people that come over here that morning on the boats and are wearing a bathing suit and they have a boat ticket and that’s it,” he said.
In a statement, Nantucket police say they will not tolerate “the violation of people’s rights, the destruction of property, and underage drinking,” adding, “we urge you to respect our Island Community.”
Police are also asking visitors to stay off the dunes to project the essential sea grass.
By BRIAN MERCHANT & MATT McCARTHY, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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