RAVINE - Police in Racine are going high tech at North Beach. They'll use surveillance cameras during the 4th of July celebrations.

Tens of thousands of people will be on the beach Saturday. This time around police will have an extra set of eyes to help them keep the peace.

North Beach will be packed on the 4th. Racine officers expect 40 to 50 thousand people, but if any of them come looking for trouble, police will have a new way to take care of it.

"The camera will help us monitor the crowd. Crowds usually act better when an officer, or in this case a camera, is watching them," says Lt. James Dobbs.

Local security company Clearcom loaned the cameras to the city. Officers will monitor them from inside a mobile command post, and zoom in on potential lawbreakers.

"We'll be able to pinpoint a certain area. If people are using fireworks we can pan our camera on them and send an officer in to stop it," Lt. Dobbs explained.

An after-school brawl on the beach last month brought more than a dozen officers to break it up. Officers call it an isolated incident, but families who plan on attending the big event Saturday think the additional cameras are a great idea.

"Knowing that they have an extra set of eyes in the sky for everybody to be safe," says John Garner.

The goal here is to make sure everyone has a happy and safe time. Festivities kick off with a show of fire engines and motorcycles. The July 4th parade starts at 9 a.m.