Rest assured, the Palm Beach Police Department is working overtime to keep us safe with a great police force and the latest in crime prevention technology.
Officers Taylor Molinaro and Kevin Morine
Try not to worry about your safety in Palm Beach. The Palm Beach Police Department has added a number of crime prevention tools to help enhance the public’s safety this year. Purchased with the help of nearly $350,000 provided by the local Palm Beach Police and Fire Foundation, the police department’s new resources include a virtual reality training simulator called the Virtra 300. Public safety workers enter the state-of-the-art facility and experience a range of simulated situations from active shooters to traffic stops. “The Virtra 300 assists with stress inoculation in that it prepares an individual to handle stressful situations,” explains Chief of Police Nicholas Caristo. “It prepares them to handle critical tasks at hand while remaining calm and maintaining their composure, which is key to producing better outcomes. It also teaches how to de-escalate situations.”
Palm Beach police officers Erick Ward, Fred Waymire and Michael Lane on their motorcycles
A batch of new surveillance cameras and unmanned drones equipped with LED lights were also added to their already state-of-the-art systems this year. Palm Beach Island now has over 130 surveillance cameras that “act like an extra set of eyes for police officers,” according to Chief Caristo. The foundation funds will underwrite a number of community outreach programs like the annual Palm Beach Teen Police Academy, mature driver programs and pro bono state-certified security surveys for island-based businesses and residences. “We approach our relationship with Palm Beach as a partnership,” says Caristo. “The best crime deterrent is maintaining a good relationship with the community.” We are in good hands! 345 S. County Road
Photography by: Taylor Amos
