Despite understaffing and larger crowds, San Diego police say they were able to keep tabs on crime at the beaches during the holidays.

With warmer, brighter weather than is normal for Memorial Day weekend, more crowds than usual converged on La Jolla beaches for three days of sand and sun.

With that, however, came crime reports that kept San Diego Police Department’s Northern Division officers busy, despite understaffing due to overtime cutbacks.

There were 60 to 80 officers present, down from 120 in previous years.

Police response in the beach areas “went well,” said San Diego police Lt Bryan Brecht. Arrests were at a minimum and it appeared beachgoers were “on their best behavior.”

From May 24 through May 26, Northern Division recorded five arrests, 138 alcohol tickets and 347 other citations in the entire division, which covers La Jolla south through Mission Beach. 

On the water, officers issued 47 citations and impounded 19 boats, Brecht said. 

He added past years have been overcast and cloudy and this year’s sunny weather drew more crowds, leading to more crime reports.

Crime sites like Citizen and CrimeMapping recorded incidents typical of a summer holiday weekend in La Jolla, including disorderly conduct, battery and noise disturbances.

One notable incident that caught the attention of residents in the Barber Tract, surrounding neighborhoods and on Nextdoor was a large party reported in the afternoon May 24 on Marine Street Beach.

Hundreds of teens gathered on the beach, engaging in aggressive, rowdy behavior and underage drinking.

The party was organized in online posts as a “fight club” for teens all over San Diego, Brecht said.

Police officers stood by and monitored, Brecht said, noting Marine Street Beach is the “usual hangout for juveniles” and “hard to enforce.”

A police helicopter circled Marine Street that evening, instructing the teens to leave the area. One teen was cited for intoxication, Brecht said. 

A rumor the party will repeat on the 4th of July weekend will be addressed by police officers, he said.

“We’ll prep for that.”

A beach-wide operations plan is already in place for Friday, July 4 through Sunday, July 7, Brecht said, as larger crowds are expected.

© lajolla.ca