ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The St. Petersburg Police Department is preparing for Monday's parade in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and they say patrolling tactics will be different than those used in 2018.
- Community leaders expressed concerns about last year's tactics
- Police said last year's approach "proactive" - this year approach will be different
- Effort to avoid what community leaders called "militant policing style"
- More Pinellas County stories
Last year, community leaders were concerned about what they called a "militant policing style" at the annual celebration.
"The sights and sounds were similar to that of a police militia," said Maria Scruggs, President of the NAACP St. Petersburg Branch. "There was yellow tape up all over the neighborhood that made it look like a crime scene, and we're thinking 'OK, something is terribly different."
Officials with St. Pete Police said at the 2018 celebration they took on a proactive approach. After hearing concerns from the community, they plan to take on a softer approach.
"I think we tried to do some things differently last year and it really didn't work for folks," explained Yolanda Fernandez, spokesperson for St. Pete Police.
St. Pete Police plan to have a full staff of officers available to respond to incidents. They plan to have less oversight as to where people can sell items, park, and celebrate.
They are also finding new ways to rope off the parade route.
"We're going to be using blue event tape, because I think people felt like that was way too much presence to have crime scene tape up at a family festival," Fernandez said.
Shruggs is confident that this year will be different than the last, when it comes to how police interact with the crowds.
"The environment will be one that's more engaged and supportive, as opposed to a very aggressive enforcement tactic," she said.