Business owners in Cocoa Village are calling for increased security measures due to concerns about aggressive panhandling and drug activity in the area.Amanda Peter, a local shopper, expressed support for more patrols, saying, “I think they should increase patrol everywhere.”Currently, Cocoa police patrol the area from Thursday through Saturday, between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m.However, there have been requests to expand these patrols to include daytime hours.Samantha Senger said, “There are some issues that they have faced in the village, and so we wanna address that and make sure that — we have an entire city that we have to protect, and so we can’t just have our police officers focus on one area, so that’s what this additional detail would be.”During a Community Redevelopment Agency meeting on Tuesday, business owners cited aggressive panhandling and drugs as reasons for the need for extra law enforcement.The city is now considering bringing in security guards instead.Senger said, “They could continue to want to do police officers, but there can be a difficulty sometimes in getting those special details filled, and so we just wanna ensure that we have the security that is being requested.”Security guards would be present during business hours and late-night activities. However, not everyone agrees with the need for increased security.Carrie Munday, who works at Village Bier Garten, said, “I just feel like it’s unnecessary. I feel safe every time I’m in the village. Every time I’m here, I feel safe and I feel secure. Daytime, too.”For now, the Community Redevelopment Agency has tabled the issue. The city must decide whether to use armed or unarmed security, and there remains the possibility of collaborating with local police.
Business owners in Cocoa Village are calling for increased security measures due to concerns about aggressive panhandling and drug activity in the area.
Amanda Peter, a local shopper, expressed support for more patrols, saying, “I think they should increase patrol everywhere.”
Currently, Cocoa police patrol the area from Thursday through Saturday, between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m.
However, there have been requests to expand these patrols to include daytime hours.
Samantha Senger said, “There are some issues that they have faced in the village, and so we wanna address that and make sure that — we have an entire city that we have to protect, and so we can’t just have our police officers focus on one area, so that’s what this additional detail would be.”
During a Community Redevelopment Agency meeting on Tuesday, business owners cited aggressive panhandling and drugs as reasons for the need for extra law enforcement.
The city is now considering bringing in security guards instead.
Senger said, “They could continue to want to do police officers, but there can be a difficulty sometimes in getting those special details filled, and so we just wanna ensure that we have the security that is being requested.”
Security guards would be present during business hours and late-night activities. However, not everyone agrees with the need for increased security.
Carrie Munday, who works at Village Bier Garten, said, “I just feel like it’s unnecessary. I feel safe every time I’m in the village. Every time I’m here, I feel safe and I feel secure. Daytime, too.”
For now, the Community Redevelopment Agency has tabled the issue. The city must decide whether to use armed or unarmed security, and there remains the possibility of collaborating with local police.