DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — City officials in Daytona Beach are moving forward with a plan that’s been in the works for more than a year: the installation of new security cameras along Seabreeze Boulevard. 

What You Need To Know

  • New security cameras have been installed along Seabreeze Boulevard in Daytona Beach

  • The initiative has been in the works for more than a year to address crime like shootings in the area, and a case where two people were stabbed and killed during bike week in 2022

  • The cost for the security cameras was just under $150,000 and were paid for with American Rescue Plan funds

  • City officials say they will also be installing security cameras on Main Street and in midtown in the near future

Walking along Seabreeze Boulevard in Daytona Beach, pedestrians are likely to see the new addition. City leaders say they hope the camera will help address violent crime like shootings in the area, and a case where two people were stabbed and killed during bike week in 2022.

Lyle Trachtman is the owner of Seabreeze Fine Jewelry, and said his family business has been on Seabreeze Boulevard since the 1960s.

Trachtman was excited to see the security cameras installed.

“It was great. It was just wonderful,” he said. “Anything they can do to help stop violence or make it safer for people is wonderful.”

Over the years, he said safety has been a concern in this area, especially at night. 

“Well, there’s always in our business a little bit of safety concern,” he said. “But most of the problems seem to happen late at night after midnight.”

But now with the newly installed 20-foot poles with two cameras each located throughout the entertainment district on Seabreeze Boulevard, city officials say things will be different. The cameras streaming video in real-time to the Daytona Beach Police Grandview Substation just around the corner, which allows officers to respond faster.

“It's great for our image as well, that things are that you can see it and it should become even safer in the evenings to walk down the street and have your kids attend a bar or restaurant in the evening,” Trachtman said.

The cost for the security cameras was just under $150,000 and were paid for with American Rescue Plan funds. So far seven cameras have been installed, and an eighth will eventually be placed on Wild Olive Avenue, where the bike week stabbing took place.

Trachtman said having these cameras up and running is crucial to make everyone feel safer.

“Oh, it's a necessity," he said. "It should be done not only here, it should be done in all the other areas, downtown Main Street, across the country."

The camera program will continue across other parts of the city. City officials say they plan to install security cameras on Main Street and in midtown in the near future.