Wildwood is beefing up security on the boardwalk
The recently rampage in New Orleans was partly a catalyst for the new security, said Wildwood's mayor: "The world has changed."
From keeping a lid on teen rowdiness to trying to prevent tragedy like the recent terror attack on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street, Wildwood officials announced a number of security upgrades intended to make their historic boardwalk a safer place.
The security initiative, which city officials said is meant to help protect against crime and terrorism, includes new lighting that has been installed along the city’s popular boardwalk and strategically positioned security cameras for better surveillance.
Still in the planning are adding bollards, or short posts, to various points that will prevent unauthorized vehicles from accessing the boardwalk and protect pedestrians against accidental incidents or intentional vehicle-ramming attacks.
“Look at what happened in New Orleans,” said Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. “We take for granted that nobody would be stupid enough to take a car or truck up a ramp and ride down the boardwalk. Now you have to always consider the worst, and pray for the best.”
Early New Year’s Day, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a Texas-born U.S. and Army veteran drove a pickup truck in a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter, killing 15 people and injured 57, before he was killed in a shootout with police. An ISIS flag was found in Jabbar’s truck. The rampage was investigated as an act of domestic terrorism.
The tragedy in New Orleans was “a catalyst” for the thought that more security measures were called for, said Troiano.
“The world has changed,” he said.
Wildwood has already added new lighting along the boardwalk from 26th Street to Burk Avenue near the Wildwoods Convention Center and installed new surveillance cameras at locations along that area, city officials said. Some bollards will be permanent while others will be movable.
The safety enhancements were planned with the help of the city and state police who conducted threat assessments, according to Wildwood Deputy Mayor Steve Mikulski.
“While we acknowledge that vulnerabilities cannot be completely eliminated, these target enhancements are designed to significantly deter potential threats and mitigate the impact of any incidents,” Mikulski said.
Many of the problems law enforcers in Wildwood and other Shore towns have had to contend with, especially in the busy summer months, have been unruly behavior and underage drinking by young people on boardwalks, beaches, and municipal streets. In Ocean City, a 15-year-old boy was stabbed in the stomach last Memorial Day weekend. His injuries were not life threatening.
Shore towns have tried various strategies to keep the peace, including earlier beach closings and curfews. After last Memorial Day weekend, Wildwood officials issued a nighttime backpack ban on their city’s boardwalk to limit alcohol and other substances, particularly among underage users.