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Home My WebLink About20250603 Oceanfront Crime Conditions Briefing-PoliceOceanfront Crime Conditions Briefing Paul W. Neudigate, Police Chief June 03, 2025 1 Citywide Violent Crime Yearly Comparison 2 562 580 514 564 447 17 15 23 24 15 89 93 77 106 86 147 162 181 142 149 309 310 233 292 197 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Homicide Rape Robbery Aggravated Assault Citywide Part I Violent Crime Compared to 4-year average (2020 – 2024) Compared to 2023 ↓20.7% ↓21.7% 3 153 13586 64 49 43 13 19 5 9 1/1/2024 - 5/14/2024 1/1/2025 - 5/14/2025 Homicide Rape Robbery Aggravated Assault Citywide Part I Violent Crime Year -To -Date ↓11.8% Compared to 2024 4 Oceanfront Violent Crime Maps By Individual Year 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Shooting Victims Non-Fatal and Fatal By Individual Year 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 0 1 2 343 days without a shooting Shooting Incident Timeline Oceanfront Footnote ¹ Generated on: Friday, May 23, 2025 2020 25.3 2021 42.4 2022 221.0 2023 118.5 2024 189.0 Average by Year 72.6 Overall Average Days 19 ShotSpotter Alerts By Individual Year 20 21 22 23 24 ↓43.6% ↓32.7% 65 52 40 49 33 42 26 15 21 22 17 18 16 16 757812 4111 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Homicide Rape Robbery Aggravated Assault Oceanfront Part I Violent Crime Compared to 4-year average (2020 – 2024) Compared to 2023 25 ↑33.3%9 12 8 8 1 2 2 1/1/2024 - 5/14/2024 1/1/2025 - 5/14/2025 Homicide Rape Robbery Aggravated Assault Oceanfront Part I Violent CrimeYear-To -Date Compared to 2024 26 Spring Break Issues 27 p28 29 30 April 5, 2025 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 32 33 March 7, 2022 34 Responses by other Resort Cities 35 Jurisdictions Analyzed •Ocean City, MD •Daytona Beach, FL •Miami Beach, FL •Panama City Beach, FL •Myrtle Beach, SC 36 Enforcement Strategies:Ocean City, Maryland •Beach Alcohol Ban & Increased Police Presence •Increased Staffing to support enforcement efforts. •Special Event Zone(s) established to manage traffic and curb unsafe driving during events. The Legislation has curbed participation in pop-up car rallies and has found use in other problematic time periods by reducing speed limits and implementing higher fines for moving violations. •Zero-Tolerance Policy for alcohol-related violations •Strict Enforcement of: Noise ordinances. Parking regulations (e.g., red curbs indicate no parking zones). Trespassing Enforcement Authorization Program. 37 Enforcement Strategies:Daytona Beach, Florida •Strategic Event Planning & Intelligence Real Time Crime Center intelligence monitoring. Special Event Zones (towing violations, increased penalties for event promoters). •Enforcement & Compliance Cease and Desist Letters for unpermitted events. •Crowd & Juvenile Management Contracted agreements with businesses and the city for loitering and trespassing after bar closing. Family Resource Centers for juvenile crimes. •Public Communication & Mutual Aid Public Messaging Programs.  Full Staffing Utilized, to include Regional and State Response. 38 Enforcement Strategies:Panama City Beach, Florida •Zero-Tolerance Enforcement Strict penalties for underage drinking, drug possession, DUI, disorderly conduct, and alcohol on the beach (banned all March). •Targeted Patrols & Staffing Increased staffing in entertainment zones, curfews for minors, and collaboration with Highway Patrol and nearby jurisdictions. •Public Safety Zones & Curfews Overnight beach closures, loud music restrictions, and designated zones with enhanced penalties and vehicle impoundment. •Technology & Checkpoints Real-Time Crime Center, LPR monitoring, and security checkpoints in high- traffic areas to intercept weapons, drugs, and alcohol. 39 p40 Enforcement Strategies:Myrtle Beach, South Carolina •Focused Staffing, Not Restrictions No major changes to parking or access; instead, increased police staffing and mutual aid for major events. •Traffic & Crowd Control One-way southbound traffic on Ocean Blvd; northbound lanes reserved for emergency vehicles to maintain flow and access. •Enforcement & Monitoring Alcohol is banned on beaches, towing is enforced as needed, and real-time monitoring is through RTCC. •Public Messaging & Engagement Outreach via social media, officer-led videos, news interviews, and scheduled on-site events to engage visitors. 41 p42 p43 p44 p45 p46 Enforcement Strategies:Miami Beach, Florida •Increased Enforcement & Staffing DUI Checkpoints, LPR Vehicle Monitoring, Drone Surveillance. Partner Stakeholders (fire inspections, mutual aide). Midnight Curfew Special Event Zones (towing violations, increased penalties for event promoters). •Beach & Crowd Control Checkpoints at beach entrances with restricted hours. Strict enforcement City Ordinances (Bag checks on the beach, noise, occupancy limits). •Traffic & Parking Restrictions Parking Garages closed to nonresidents. Higher parking and towing rates. •Targeted Public Messaging Enhanced public messaging campaigns. Communication of rules via PSA’s, social media, and signage.47 Enforcement Strategies:Florida Special Event Zones Municipalities throughout Florida utilize code 315.1891 to designate a special event zone and apply enhanced penalties for offenses. Special Event Unpermitted temporary activity or event organized or promoted via a social media platform, which is attended by 50 or more persons and substantially increases or disrupts the normal flow of traffic on a roadway, street, or highway. Special Event Zone A contiguous area on or along a roadway, street, or highway which is designated by warning signs. The term includes a parking structure, a parking lot, or any other property whether public or private, immediately adjacent to or along the designated area. Once designated, includes the following enhanced actions/penalties: Double the statutory fine for any noncriminal traffic infraction. Law Enforcement can impound a vehicle for up to 72 hours for any noncriminal traffic or criminal traffic violation. Law Enforcement can enforce occupancy limits on private or public property in the zone. Municipalities can recover from a promoter or organizer of a special event all relevant costs and fees associated with designating and enforcing the special event zone, including, but not limited to, costs and fees for the provision of supplemental law enforcement, firefighter,emergency medical technician or paramedic, and sanitation services. 48 p49 p50 p51 p52 p53 Historic Responses for Week 17 •Robust police staffing/visibility (not a deterrent for violent crime) Off days cancelled Assistance from VBSO & VSP •Traffic flushing on Atlantic Avenue •Zero tolerance for fights/assaultive behavior/crimes against persons. Situational enforcement for Open Flask, Jaywalking, Marijuana (no longer able to enforce Jaywalking/marijuana use (civil) •Event Programming •Coordinated messaging w/ City Comms – “Know Before You Go” 54 Implementation Measures for Consideration •Parking lot closures •Parking rate increases •Curfew (midnight, 7/8 p.m. for juveniles w/o parent or legal guardian) •Special Event Zone •Coordinated messaging/media campaign in advance of next year 55 56 Questions?