City Council may turn to emergency weekend curfews following a shooting at the resort and concerns about nighttime crowds that include unaccompanied minors.
The council could adopt it during a special meeting Thursday.
An “imminent threat” curfew could start at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights through the end of April. City Manager Patrick Duhaney said Tuesday it essentially could last from dusk to dawn.
Officials have grappled for years with how to control crowds that can overwhelm the Oceanfront. Saturday's warm weather drew crowds and police believe more than 1,000 were minors. Six young adults were injured Saturday night in a shooting along Atlantic Avenue. The victims weren’t involved in the incident that led to gunfire, according to police.
“Right now, we’re very concerned as a police department that we will see a repeat this coming weekend of what we experienced this past weekend,” Police Chief Paul Neudigate said Tuesday at City Hall.
He said the recommended step is meant to ensure safety.
“It’s not about mass arrest,” Neudigate said. “It’s not about penalizing a certain group. It’s about keeping everyone safe.”
This would be in addition to a recent decision to move up the city curfew for unaccompanied minors by an hour to 10 p.m. because of public safety concerns. The new curfew will be from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting March 19. There are exceptions, such as for minors traveling to or from work.
This past weekend, the shooting on the 1800 block of Atlantic Avenue left six people injured. An 18-year-old man from Norfolk faces several charges. Police said those wounded were between the ages of 18 and 24.
That night and early Sunday, police enforced the existing curfew starting at 11 p.m. and took 37 young people into custody. Most were turned over to parents with warnings, but three faced charges. Two were illegally carrying guns, police said.
On Saturday, about 2,000 people were mostly gathered between the 1600 and 1900 blocks of Atlantic Avenue. About 60% were minors, the chief said.
Early spring months are when public safety issues can be the most pronounced at the Oceanfront when large groups sometimes gather unexpectedly. Police had 50 extra officers that night.
Councilmember Jennifer Rouse asked the chief about what the emergency curfew looks like in practice, if it is approved. The chief said the city would try to educate the public about the curfew, which is not meant to lead to arrests of young people.
“The goal is to send the message,” Neudigate said.
City Manager Patrick Duhaney said he observed the police at work at the resort this past weekend. He said police tried to let young people know in advance that the existing curfew would be enforced and calm “contentious” situations.
Some council members supported weekend curfews. They discussed the public safety, including tourists. Some were frustrated that state lawmakers didn’t pass legislation to address “pop-up” events, unpermitted gatherings that can occur without warning and can be promoted on social media.
Vice Mayor Rosemary Wilson suggested extending weekend curfews through April, longer than staff initially suggested during the briefing Tuesday.
Others supported that idea.
Councilmember David Hutcheson said the curfews would try to get minors out of dangerous situations.
“We want them to be safe,” he said. “We want them to have a long life.”
