SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. (PIX11) - There's something about the Jersey Shore on the Fourth of July. Up and down the boardwalk of Seaside Heights are families ready to enjoy the holiday.
"The fireworks are beautiful every year," said Veronica Flagg from Morris County. "Always a good display."
It's a place that has shown resiliency after Superstorm Sandy and is responsible for countless summer memories. However, bad memories from this past Memorial Day weekend linger, as a crowded boardwalk erupted into chaos after a report of shots fired that turned out to be unfounded.
As a local, it hurt Luis Cruz's heart.
"It shouldn't happen," said Cruz. "This is a place people come to enjoy, have a good vacation and stuff. They don't want to come here and have bad memories and stuff like that."
"We're not going to take chances with anything," said Seaside Heights Police Chief Tom Boyd. "We're going to be ready for anything.
"We're going to have a huge safety presence," said Boyd. "We're going to have 15 to 20 undercover officers — prosecutor's office, my detective bureau — we're going to have state police. We're going to have sheriff's department with K-9."
The chief also said police will be cracking down on anyone smoking on the boardwalk. Whether it's marijuana, cigarettes or vaping, he said it's an automatic fine. His priority this weekend, he said, is everyone's safety. He sent a message to those looking to cause trouble:
"Oh, you come, there's going to be a problem," said Boyd. "We're not going to tolerate anything. If you're stealing, you're doing something wrong, you're doing something criminal, we're putting you in handcuffs, we're not going to play games."
