CBS4 in Miami, Florida gushes in a report about the local police department’s military style enforcement planned for Memorial Day weekend.
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.
Seriously? You need a $140,000 ATV for Memorial Day weekend? But wait, there’s more.
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’.”
What this really means is, “Hey people are congregating with others. Go stop it. We don’t want people gathering together on a major holiday weekend and having any fun.
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.
Again, Memorial Day weekend is usually full of people just enjoying themselves or drunk people. If you’re intent was to catch DUIs and stolen cars, why the need for that $140,000 vehicle?
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.
The people didn’t complain last year when we were providing security theater, so we’re going to provide even more this year. Even the reporters have joined in on the enthusiasm of how nice a police state would be.
Video also on YouTube.
