DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. -- T-shirts featuring a caricature of the Daytona Beach police chief dunking criminals in a toilet under the words "SCUMBAG ERADICATION TEAM" were so popular they sold out immediately after they were made available to the public.

The $10 gray T-shirts were created by the department's Police Explorer program, made up of 25 law enforcement enthusiasts or future officers, Police Chief Mike Chitwood told the Daytona Beach News Journal.

About 300 shirts were created to raise money for the organization and sold out immediately, the report said.

"The shirts have been so popular that we will have another 250 for sale shortly. Members of the PD and the community have purchased the shirts," Chitwood said.

Chitwood has used the word "scumbag" to describe criminals in several Local 6 stories.

However, some said the T-shirt is over the top, Local 6 reported.

"I don't think anybody should be called a scumbag," a resident said. "People get into situations, and sometimes it's not their own fault."

"I wouldn't buy that for my 13-year-old daughter," a beachgoer said.

"I'm not telling you I'm perfect," Chitwood said. "And, I'm not telling you that I'm the most politically correct person in the world. But that is not what I'm paid to do. I'm paid to drive crime down."

Chitwood said that when he uses the word "scumbag," he is talking about rapists, murderers and robbers who have been arrested on multiple occasions.

"We deal with the dregs of society who are out there preying on the people who work every day," Chitwood said. "We work for the victims and if they don't like it, I really don't care. Don't buy the shirt."

The next batch of T-shirts will be available early next week at the front counter of police headquarters, according to information from the department.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.