JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — With safety at the beaches on many residents' minds, Beaches Watch held their annual police panel Wednesday night where all three beach police chiefs spoke to residents about public safety issues.
Meredith Goostree and her 17-year-old son, Brayden, came to the meeting to speak to Jacksonville Beach Police Chief Gene Smith, after they said they were assaulted by a group of people while leaving Jacksonville Beach Fourth of July fireworks show last week. They filed a police report but are wanting more to be done.
"This is my son. He has a broken nose and two black eyes," said Smith, "I feel I have no other option. It’s been very hard emotionally to see my son that way on the ground people beating him for trying to protect me."
After sharing what happened to her, Smith responded saying his department will look into their complaint.
This mother and son weren't the only ones asking for more to be done to make the beaches safe.
I don’t have any answers it’s almost been four months. My son is gone," said Katrina Williams.
She is the mother of 21-year-old James Jones III, who was shot and killed during one of the three shootings on St. Patrick's Day at Jacksonville Beach, was also there wanting more to be done.
"I need to know. I want answers for my baby," she said.
"I can tell you your son's case is active and just like other homicides we work we will get this solved if possible," Smith said.
While all three police chiefs said during holidays their beaches are patrolled by officers, they said they don't enough, due to a shortage of officers.
"We will continue to protect our citizens our businesses and our city whether we're one short or 30 short," said Smith.