Deadline Live – CBS MiamiMIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) – Sun, sand, music and heightened security pretty much sums up Memorial Day Weekend on South Beach.
The Miami Beach Police Department is currently preparing for the annual holiday weekend party, commonly referred to as Urban Beach Week, by beefing up security as much as possible.
“Prevention is key,” said Detective Vivian Hernandez.
Prevention takes a lot of planning, which started not long after last year’s festivities ended.
Cameras, both mobile and stationary, have been installed throughout the city. Ready to be deployed throughout the city of Miami Beach are a total of 62 light towers, twelve visual messaging boards and three watch towers.
Roughly 400 officers per shift from multiple agencies will pack the streets of Miami Beach.
In addition to extra bikes and ATVs, the Police Department has a new vehicle on loan referred to as an LTV.
CBS 4 News had the exclusive first look at this 140-thousand dollar light tactical all-terrain vehicle, similar to the ones used in the military.
“This is the only one of its kind,” an officer explained to CBS 4′s Lauren Pastrana. “There’s no other vehicle like this on the market at this time.”
But instead of war zones overseas, cops will use it to protect the city of Miami Beach, as well as its residents and visitors.
“A dark beach at night, I would compare it to a dark alley in a big city,” said the officer.
The camera uses infrared technology to detect heat signatures on the beach, so even in the dead of night, officers can see people on a small screen mounted inside the vehicle.
“We could easily pick up a heat signature on this camera close to 3/4 of a mile away,” the officer explained.
In a tech truck about a mile from the heart of the action, another network of surveillance cameras can be viewed on one giant screen.
Eighteen cameras placed throughout the city, in partnership with the Miami-Dade Police Department, will help alert officers if trouble occurs.
“When a crowd develops, people watching those cameras can let the officers know, ‘Hey, please respond to that area. Make sure everybody is safe. Make sure nothing is developing or becoming a problem’.”
The goal is to avoid chaos, like the incident that occurred two years ago when officers shot and killed a man they claim was driving erratically on Collins Avenue, by preventing it.
The family of the driver, Raymond Herisse, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against the police department.
In 2012, cops called the holiday weekend’s event a big success, and are hoping to build-on those improvements in 2013.
“We take every year into account to make the next year a lot better,” Det. Hernandez said.
Police will use license plate readers on the causeways to quickly scan for stolen vehicles or owners with outstanding felony warrants.
In addition, a massive DUI checkpoint is planned for the MacArthur Causeway heading into the beach on Friday night.
Also, Ocean Drive will be closed to vehicle traffic and a traffic loop will be in effect between Collins Ave. and Washington Ave.
George Orwell,… EAT YOUR HEART OUT!!
JD – US Marines – So,.. this is what decades of fighting for freedom has given us.
You said it JD!
If people would be smart enough to stay home or go somewhere else….but they won’t……
I’m going to see what might be planned at beaches around here, and if foot is better will go shoot some video.
Are you going to post some of those floridian beach videos RT ? 🙂 I would probobly be jealous seeing those beaches there because it has been cold and crappy out where I am at all week so far.
Yeah Digger, if my foot heals up some more, or if I can figure how to wrap it up to keep the sand out (Thinking baggie and tape 🙂
I’ll get some beach shots for ya and send some sunshine up your way! Mostly going to check out and video leos set-ups & actions.
🙂 RT
Lord help us! NWO, saw this early today and thought about posting, but figured we here at FTT are all to aware of this crap going on to keep us SAFE. Sure would like to see people refuse to show up due to all the survelance, and let them eat all those worthless dollars they spent, oh of our money.
Katie, I posted this one for RT’s benefit, since that’s her neck of the woods, more or less.
TY #1, there wasn’t anything going on at the beaches around here. They did have a horse beach walk Memorial Day evening at one beach. All the leo’s were in the parades with just a few leo cars parked along the routes.
The 4th of July on the other hand (After any am. parades) there is a lot of leo activity, I will be out observing on that day, should be interesting with all the newly granted/funded toys they have received 🙂
The people in south beach, eh?? hehe!
TY again #1 🙂
Most welcome RT. Was wondering why I hadn’t seen you post for a few days. Just more smoke & mirrors then, eh?
Took the day off and went to the movies. Saw “Now You See Me”.Good flick. Woody Harrelson is one of my favorite actors.
I thought your boss must have caved 🙂
hehehe!
No such luck. In fact, he pissed me off so much yesterday, I cussed him out and took today off for spite. 🙂
Uh Oh!