Summer is here and Galveston County sheriff’s deputies are ready for the crowds.

On Bolivar Peninsula you’ll find an increase in beach patrol, as deputies use their new utility- task vehicles to keep the beaches safer for the season’s large crowds.

Beachgoers like Chris Williams, of Pearland, called the increase in law enforcement a welcome sight.

“We’ve been coming here since high school and there was never police presence before,” Williams said. “Honestly, I like the mix of young people with families to let the kids know its OK to have fun as a teen and with police presence it lets them know if things get out of hand police are there to help you out; I think it’s a good message all the way around.”

The Bolivar beach patrol program is paid for by the beach sticker program which requires residents and visitors to pay to park on the sand.

Major Douglas Hudson, who has patrolled these beaches since 1993, said this is the first time the peninsula has assigned deputies to exclusively patrol the beaches.

“The money that is collected is put right back into the beach,” Maj. Hudson said. “These deputies are to focus only on the beach, they won’t be responsible for leaving the beach unless it’s an absolute emergency.”

Pct. 1 County Commissioner Ryan Dennard said the goal is for these deputies to act as tourism ambassadors, at first informing and then enforcing when necessary.