ORLANDO, Fla. — Bars, businesses, and the Orlando Police Department are getting ready for what’s expected to be a big Halloween weekend in downtown Orlando.
Several events are planned, including a Downtown Orlando Halloween Bar Crawl and Thornton Park’s Annual Block Party.
The Orlando Police Department says they will have uniformed and undercover officers working to keep everyone safe. Bar owners also told Channel 9 they will enforce standard safety protocols, including bag checks, screening patrons with handheld metal detectors, and ID scanning, as required by city ordinance.
The weekend marks two years since a mass shooting killed two people and hurt seven others in Orlando. The shooter, Jaylen Edgar,19, was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday for the shooting.
People in downtown Orlando told Channel 9 that two years later, the shooting remains a deterrent.
“I’m very aware of the state of the weekends that come here. Most of my friends Don’t want to come hang out with me downtown, and I don’t think that has anything to do with me,” said one downtown resident.
The Orlando Police Department says overall they’ve seen a 20 percent reduction in downtown crime compared to last year, with violent crime down 4 percent.
The department is also stressing the importance of maintaining proper After Midnight Alcohol Sales policies.
The After Midnight Alcohol Sales Permit was enacted in 2023, requiring businesses seeking to serve alcohol between midnight and 2 a.m. in the Downtown Entertainment District to obtain a permit.
Participating businesses must implement specific security measures, including metal detectors and ID scanners, and contribute toward the cost of additional public safety resources needed during late-night hours.
Earlier this month, OPD announced a 6-week undercover operation that discovered the sale of illegal narcotics and/or violations of the After-Midnight Alcohol Sales (AMS) permit at 12 different establishments.
The Orlando Police Department said that over the past 10 months, officers have made 2,848 arrests, including 462 alcohol-related arrests and 469 drug-related arrests.
During that same period, 69 illegal guns were removed from the street.
The city of Orlando also said they have implemented several measures to enhance public safety downtown, including increasing code enforcement resources, funding additional off-duty Orlando Police officers, and expanding lighting improvements.
You can read the statement from the Orlando Police Department below:
“The safety and security of everyone remains a top priority for the Orlando Police Department. While we do not discuss specific security measures, we plan and staff large-scale events based on anticipated needs and make adjustments as necessary to support public safety. We encourage anyone who sees suspicious activity to call 9-1-1 or alert an officer working the event. Officers work both in visible roles and behind the scenes to help keep our community safe.”
The City of Orlando also provided the below statement which reads in part:
“The City of Orlando has made significant investments in downtown, with a goal of transforming it into a vibrant neighborhood, economic center and destination for residents and visitors. Maintaining a safe, welcoming, and thriving downtown remains a top priority. The city takes a comprehensive approach to public safety that combines increased enforcement, enhanced security requirements for businesses, infrastructure improvements, and strategic investments that support a vibrant, active urban environment.
The city has implemented several measures to enhance public safety in downtown, including increasing code enforcement resources, funding additional off-duty Orlando Police officers, piloting controlled entry points during major events, expanding lighting improvements throughout the downtown core, requiring private parking lots to be secured, strengthening noise regulations, reopening Orange Avenue, launching the Clean and Safe app, and converting downtown streets to two-way".
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