ACBP is the oldest organized beach patrol in the U.S.
By Krystle J Bailey
“August is traditionally storm season on our shore,” shares Atlantic City Beach Patrol Chief Steve Downey. “That means wave heights are bigger and rip currents are a lot worse, especially in the uptown areas.”
Downey has been on the beach for 32 years this summer with minimal days off in the last nine years after stepping into his current role as the ACBP chief. Born and raised in Atlantic City, Downey has served as a lifeguard on local beaches for most of his life. Regarding ocean safety, in his current role, he is the man with the plan – literally.
Before everyone heads to the beach each day, Downey is up early, assessing beach conditions, organizing rescue drills, and looking ahead for any potential ocean conditions the beach personnel will have to prepare for that day. He then communicates the findings to his team of over 150 people before the first toes hit the water.
Beginning Memorial Day Weekend, Downey works straight through the summer with minimal days off until the end of September. While the peak season has traditionally ended on Labor Day Weekend, Downey explains that the shoulder season in Atlantic City has gotten increasingly busier in recent years and is now referred to as “the second summer.”
The Atlantic City Beach Patrol is the oldest organized patrol in the United States. Established in 1891, the 132-year-old beach patrol is responsible for watching over an estimated 3.5 million beach visitors yearly and remains one of few local beach towns that do not require beach tags. There are 11 beach patrol districts in Atlantic City, with 12-18 personnel per district. This massive patrol force ranges from the newest 16-year-old lifeguard to the 68-year-old retired doctor, Marc Plotnick, who is in his first year as an ACBP lifeguard.
Atlantic City Beach concerts present a unique situation for Downey and his staff, as the need for more personnel is increased by the dozens.
“We triple personnel during the concerts,” explains the former lieutenant. “I allocate 30-32 guards within the concert footprint, especially for the country concerts, which tend to have a lot more swimmers.”
The rule of thumb in a shore town is to always swim in front of a lifeguard stand, but Downey doubles down on that message saying, “If you can’t see us, chances are we can’t see you.”
As we enjoy the last month of summer in South Jersey, keep in mind that the ocean is just as mighty as it is beautiful. Should you get stuck in a rip current, remember to swim parallel to the shore rather than against the current. Dress children in brightly colored bathing suits as often as possible and ensure proper hydration for every member of the family. Always swim near a lifeguard stand and only swim during patrolled hours. The lifeguards in Atlantic City and across the area are professionally trained to navigate our waters should the unexpected occur. These are the men and women that keep us safe as we cool off in the Atlantic Ocean every summer.
Krystle J Bailey is a published author, multimedia journalist, copywriter, and content creator. She is a regular Shore Local columnist and digital contributor as well as the booking agent and co-host of the radio show Joe’s Table for Two on WOND. Krystle can be reached at KrystleJBailey@gmail.com
