In a preemptive move to maintain peace during the bustling spring break season of March 8-17, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday announced a boost in law enforcement support across vacation hotspots in the state.
At a press conference at the bustling Miami Beach Convention Center, Mr. DeSantis unveiled the state’s proactive strategy. Accompanied by local and state officials, including Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner, Mark Glass, commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Dave Kerner, executive director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the governor shared the plan to prevent disorder before it escalates.
“The Sunshine State welcomes visitors with open arms, but not at the expense of our law and order,” the Republican governor said. “We don’t welcome mayhem. The state has a lot going on, it’s a fun place to be at and we want to see people do that, but we also are going to insist that people respect the law.”
He added, “Florida may be popular for spring break, but it is inhospitable to criminal activity. Florida does not tolerate lawlessness and chaos. I am directing state law enforcement agencies to provide additional personnel and assets to local entities to ensure that they have the resources they need to keep the peace over spring break.”
The initiative includes deploying 60 Florida state troopers throughout South Florida, bolstered by an additional 24 officers from a rapid response team. Mr. DeSantis affirmed that these measures will extend beyond Miami Beach, with further personnel poised to oversee other spring break favorites such as Daytona Beach and Panama City Beach.
“We’re staying ahead of the curve,” he said. “We don’t want to find ourselves in a reactive state, playing catch-up when a state of emergency is declared.”
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