ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Bay-area counties have been celebrating Pride month, but Saturday night will feature the St. Petersburg Pride Parade, where the downtown area is expected to be filled with more than 200,000 people.
- Police will be using new video trailers to monitor parade
- Trailers will allow them to response to emergencies quicker
- Party starts at 2 p.m. and the parade begins at 7:15 p.m. tonight
The St. Petersburg Police Department is tasked with keeping the celebration safe and they have new technology to help with that.
St. Petersburg police officials have four new video trailers they will be using this weekend; the trailers were purchased with a grant from the department of homeland security.
The video trailers allow them to see a bird's-eye view of what is happening along the parade route on Bayshore Drive.
Officers will be monitoring each screen and they can zoom in on people and license plates. This gives them a closer look, allowing them to respond quicker in case of an emergency.
"We may not be able to get the officers there quick enough. These cameras can get us there within seconds," said Police Chief Anthony Holloway.
Police officers will be stationed all along downtown to monitor what is happening as well.
The party starts at 2 p.m. and the parade begins at 7:15 p.m.
If you are heading down, there are a few items prohibited: scooters, skateboards, fireworks and weapons.
Also organizers say you should leave your pets at home for their safety.