2007 African-American Spring Break Detail -- Daytona Beach, Florida

Over the weekend of March 30 - April 1st over 70 members of the Florida Highway Patrol Auxiliary from all over the state traveled to Daytona Beach to participate in providing police services and traffic management for the African-American Spring Break activities. Six members of Troop F participated. Auxiliary members Lt. John Prescott, Lt. Matt Fineman, Trooper Wade Osborn, Trooper Pat Flynn and Trooper Jim Knowlton joined Trooper Allan Williams (Venice Unit Instructor) for an interesting weekend. We were housed at the Perry's Ocean Edge Resort again this year. Fortunately for the city of Daytona Beach the student participation was less then expected so law enforcement was at a minimum. Since our posts (Troop F) were a bit off the beaten path, the detail was looking like it was going to be a bit slow also. Trooper Williams and A/Trooper Pat Flynn were stationed just up the road from A/Lt. Prescott and A/Trooper Osborn. Trooper Williams, ever thinking, decided that we could use this time to enforce traffic safety ordinances. So, they set up and ran radar for the traffic exiting and entering the beach areas. When a motorist was clocked exceeding the speed limit or observed playing music at an excessive level, Trooper Williams or A/Trooper Pat Flynn would use a private "talk around" channel to alert the next station so a stop could be made and a warning was issued. If a more serious violation was observed, Trooper Williams moved to that station and issued a citation. By the end of the day, 57 warnings were issued and 5 citations. Assisting in the activities was A/Trooper Jerry Gentry from Troop G in Jacksonville. All-in-all it was an enjoyable day of enforcement.

A/Trooper Flynn (left) and A/Trooper Gentry (far right) watch suspect as Trooper Williams and A/Trooper Osborn search his vehicle.	Trooper Williams explains the citations to a suspect and why he will not be allowed to drive his vehicle as A/Trooper Flynn and A/Trooper Osborn observe.