The statistics speak volumes. In 2011 nearly 350 people were arrested at the Gasparilla (“adult”) Parade. Last year it was less than 50.
What had become a salute to debauchery, regurgitation and rites of pissage had turned into a huge, professionally manageable street parade with crowd-control challenges. What had become a day without rules had morphed into a day with consequences for fledgling anarchists.
It happened because enough was enough–and enough was seen on cell phone videos to embarrass Tampa City Council and the TPD. It was far beyond “rowdy.” Plus, Gasparilla was always one underage imbiber not surviving an alcohol-induced coma or one panicky driver not reacting in time to darting drunks. It’s called compassion, common sense–and liability.
The result: civic forums invited more public input and two mayors and TPD leadership stepped up and made a difference. They made sure a message was sent and, more importantly, that it was received.
The sending part was done by a campaign that reached out to schools and parents. The applicable laws–from underage drinking and open containers to coolers and beyond-the-pale behaviors–were laid out. Then they were enforced. Nobody likes being busted, and nobody likes having to go get their busted kid.
Not only was there literally more law enforcement–but it was much better deployed. No longer were frustrated locals–unlike most mega parades, this one abuts neighborhoods–seeing a gaggle of officers shooting the, uh, breeze at an intersection while nearby streets and, especially, alleys went mindlessly unmonitored.
Moreover, the parade became more spread out, with Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park becoming a major draw. Additional port-a-potties along the route also helped. And, now, in the post-Boston Marathon bombing era, there are portable watch towers, pole-topped video cameras and cruising bomb-squad carts.
But as any security expert will tell you, the best policing is self-policing. “It would be great for us,” said Police Chief Jane Castor, “if we had a Gasparilla parade with no arrests at all.”