Crime

After years of unrest, Cape beaches remain quiet July 4 following new restrictions

Police say this year was a resounding success, with few arrests made.

By Beth Treffeisen

July 5, 2024

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Following years of unrest on local beaches during the July 4th holiday, including fights, vandalism, and unsafe conduct, local police chiefs say this year was a resounding success when it came to keeping the beaches family-friendly. 

Dennis police report no arrests or major incidents at town beaches during the holiday. While the beaches were at capacity, the atmosphere and spirit were markedly different than in years past. 

“Everything went great,” said Dennis Police Chief John Brady on Friday. “We had a real family atmosphere out there.”

Over the past three years, particularly at Mayflower Beach, police reported a dramatic increase in unsafe and dangerous conduct, fighting, assaults, vandalism, binge drinking, drug use, and loud music. Since 2019, the police reported a 100% increase in calls for emergency services at the town’s north-side beaches. 

In response, Dennis police instituted new restrictions such as not selling daily parking passes, and having a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol consumption, drug use, overly loud music, and unsafe behavior. 

Town officials will meet next week to debrief on the day and thoroughly review the data. 

But the initial feeling is that the holiday was a “tremendous success,” Brady said, thanking the members of the Dennis Police Department, Dennis town employees, residents and beachgoers who made it a “truly great day.” 

Falmouth also saw similar problems in years past, with beaches being left an “utter disaster with litter, alcohol containers and broken glass.” 

This year, the town saw a massive improvement after adding extra patrols at the beaches and enacting a similar no-tolerance policy. However, a few problems persisted. 

“I am pleased to inform you that there was NO property damage reported, littering or out of control issues on our beaches or neighborhoods,” Falmouth Chief of Police Jeffrey Lourie wrote in a social media post. 

He wrote that the Falmouth police did make a handful of arrests during the holiday, but there were no major issues like last year. 

Police remained busy until 3 a.m., responding to loud party complaints and dealing with numerous underage people consuming alcohol.

In a public service announcement posted on Wednesday, the Falmouth Police Department warned visitors that plainclothes officers would be patrolling the town beaches. All bags and coolers were subject to search. 

The police department warned that there would be a zero-tolerance policy for consuming alcohol or marijuana in public and any disorderly conduct. 

After some backlash online, Lourie wrote that police did not “randomly” search these items but only when there was cause to do so, such as an officer observing someone consuming alcohol on the public beach, which is unlawful. 

“Our goal is to ensure a safe event and that our residents’ and visitors’ rights are not violated,” Lourie wrote. 

Falmouth Police, he said, will continue to be vigilant throughout the holiday weekend.