Back in March, The Broward Sheriff’s Office began spreading the word they there would be a new unit on the streets of Deerfield Beach.
Unlike regular patrols that handle hundreds of calls daily, the Deerfield Beach unit of five deputies parks its cruisers and hits the pavement.
"We're going to come out; we're going to make the community better. We're going to make it better to live in," explains BSO Sgt. Floyd Baker.
Baker says they take the extra step to get to know the people in the neighborhood and allow the residents to get to know each deputy on the unit.
The group of deputies addressed the gang and gun violence that many residents in the neighborhood were fed up with.
"No matter what you said or did, they would ignore, they'd shoot you the bird, they'd call you names, they'd spit on the ground."
But, after eight months of walking the streets, Baker says there was a drastic change.
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"We actually had people come forward to us and help us with a strong armed robbery. [Others] came up to me and said, sergeant, we like you and your unit, we like what you're doing out here but we know who did this and this is who did it,” says Baker.
The deputies and residents both agree that the Deerfield Beach neighborhood as cleaned up and is a different place.
A rare bond blooms. "We just love him; he's everything to us," gushed Derricka Montgomery.
Since March, the unit has spent more than 600 hours walking the neighborhood.
They have made more than 550 arrests.
"We gave warnings; you can't be out here drinking, you can't be out here smoking weed, you can't be urinating on walls, you can't be having sights, you can't be carrying guns. Just so you know, we're going to be out here; here’s your warning. We did that more than once."
Baker says the deputies have also helped repair pools, helped neighbors with handy work and even played with the neighborhood kids.
BSO said it’s seen a drop in crime in areas of Deerfield Beach as a result of this unit.
The lower crime rate has helped businesses in the area.
Georgia Lowe lives in the neighborhood and praises the “walking” unit.
"If we didn't have the officer, we couldn't sit here in peace of they'd be robbing us or breaking in," says Lowe.
Sgt. Baker, who has decades of experience, says the unit has given him a new sense of purpose.
"I was very close to just quitting and getting out of South Florida with everything that’s going on. This has revitalized my soul."
This old fashioned police work has certainly forged a partnership between law enforcement and the community, making everyone safer.
Katrina Scott, a mother, says she feels happy that her kids can now go outside to play.
“We don't have to worry about it. I have his number personally where if anything goes on; I know who I'm going to call."
