WILDWOOD, NJ—In response to an overwhelming number of service calls during the Memorial Day weekend, the City of Wildwood Police Department, along with city officials, managed a significant uptick in disturbances primarily caused by large groups of young adults and juveniles.
Mayor Ernie Troiano, Jr., Commissioner of Public Safety Steve Mikulski, and Commissioner Krista McConnell detailed the sequence of events starting from Saturday evening, May 25, stating that things were starting to get out of hand in the city.
On Saturday, the police department began receiving numerous calls, leading to the issuance of mutual aid requests across Cape May County.
At certain points, the incidents were so high that the police could not respond to some calls. By Sunday, May 26, local authorities, advised by Chief Joseph Murphy and the Emergency Management Coordinator, declared emergent conditions that threatened public health and safety. A local disaster emergency was subsequently declared early Monday, May 27, as conditions worsened despite efforts to control the situation.
Mayor Ernie Troiano, Jr. stated, “Wildwood will not tolerate unruly, undisciplined, unparented children nor will we stand by while the laws of the state tie the hands of the police. We wholeheartedly support the City of Wildwood Police Department in protecting this community from these nuisance crowds on our boardwalk and in the city.”
The declaration included a temporary closure of the city’s boardwalk and was aimed at quelling the unrest and maintaining safety. This state of emergency was effective in handling the incidents and was lifted once the situation was under control. City officials expressed their gratitude for the cooperation from the public and the assistance from various law enforcement agencies.
Mayor Troiano emphasized the city’s zero-tolerance policy towards disruptive behavior, particularly from young individuals without proper supervision. Commissioner Mikulski noted that preparations had been made in anticipation of Sunday night’s events, which facilitated timely and decisive action.
Commissioner of Public Safety Steve Mikulski continued, “We had measures in place ahead of the Sunday night crowds so that the police department could take these preemptive actions should the need arise. Unfortunately, the crowds necessitated the state of emergency to which our police department and other responding departments worked together to maintain order in the city.”
Commissioner McConnell acknowledged the ongoing support for the police force in managing such disturbances and mentioned collaboration with state officials, including Senator Testa, to address these issues comprehensively.