VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla — Law enforcement is increasing presence in the city of DeLand over what they said is a string of deadly gun violence.

Keith Ross has lived in the Candlelight Oaks community for years, but he doesn’t think the increased presence is having the desired effect.

He said the big city tactics aren’t making the area safer. The DeLand Police Department, in partnership with other organizations including the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, is putting more boots on the ground. They have launched a “Violence Crime Task Force” to help with gun violence across the city.

Candlelight service Oaks is one of the areas affected by the violence, but Ross isn’t necessarily in support of this new policing method.

“All they doing is locking up innocent people instead of doing the job. They rather locking everybody they can up and draw in information from a snitch. It ain’t right and that is what they have been doing,” explained Ross.

A video over four minutes long published by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office online shows different interactions law enforcement officials have had with people in the city of DeLand as officials increase their presence. In these body camera videos, you can hear officials tell people they will increase their presence to help combat these crimes.

Some residents told officers they understand why the police are out there patrolling.

“The reason we are doing a lot of extra patrolling is because of all the shooting in the Oaks,” said an officer. “Right, which I totally get it,” responded the resident.

The Chief of the DeLand Police Department adds these incidents are happening in multiple areas including Spring Hill and Candlelight Oaks. He explained the violence isn’t coming from one specific area.

“We don’t necessarily believe the violent people are coming from Candlelight Oaks. The information we have from community members is, these are people that don’t live in Candlelight Oaks they are coming in Candlelight Oaks for specific reasons or to target certain people,” said Chief Jason Umberger of the DeLand Police Department.

Ross still has concerns that the streets aren’t getting any safer as a result of this increased presence.

“They make it worse because they make it for anybody to tell on anybody, for no reason,” explained Ross. According to Chief Umberger, not only are they coming after the criminals, but they are also coming after the people who help aid the people responsible. He adds anyone with information is urged to share it with law enforcement.