Sixty Florida state officers will be dispatched to Miami Beach this weekend to assist local authorities as the resort town continues to deal with spring break tourists after two fatal shootings.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ordered the deployment after two murders occurred in Miami Beach over the weekend. Spring break has become a source of stress and anger for local officials and residents as violent mobs have led to murders, violent confrontations with police and other unruly behavior in recent years.
“Florida is a law-and-order state. As part of Governor DeSantis’ priority to protect Floridians and keep our communities safe, FHP is ready and willing to act,” said Dave Kerner, director of Florida Highway Safety and Motor vehicles.
MIAMI BEACH SPRING BREAK SHOOTING LEAVES 1 DEATH, SENDS CROWD SCRAMBLING
A Miami Beach police officer exits a closed road Friday during spring break in Miami Beach, Florida. Florida State Troopers will be in town this weekend assisting local law enforcement. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/AFP via Getty Images)
The troopers will patrol the streets and “will remain as long as necessary protecting the residents of the greater Miami area, and we will have no tolerance for dangerous and illegal activity,” Kerner said.
In response to last weekend’s deadly shootings, Miami Beach has imposed a curfew to control the chaotic crowd.
The curfew primarily affects South Beach, a popular destination for spring breakers, and will run from 11:59 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday, the city said in a press release. An extra curfew will probably be imposed from Thursday to Monday.
Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said on Sunday that many people visiting the area have brought multiple firearms with them, creating “a danger that cannot go unchecked.”
“Despite an unprecedented police presence, Ocean Drive has been the scene of deadly shootings for two consecutive nights. So tonight, Sunday, March 19, we will be implementing a midnight curfew for South Beach as part of our emergency powers. In addition to a midnight curfew, sales are or distribution of alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption after 6 p.m. tonight prohibited in the curfew area,” Gelber added.
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Lawrence Richard of Fox News contributed to this report.