Murphy Downplays Shore Mayhem As Cops, Lawmakers Demand Change

NEW JERSEY — Mayhem down the shore over Memorial Day Weekend — including a teen stabbing in Ocean City and a false alarm of shots fired in Seaside Heights — were hiccups in an otherwise successful kickoff to the summer, Gov. Phil Murphy said Tuesday.

The weekend’s chaos in Seaside Heights led to a total 90 arrests (72 adults and 18 juveniles arrested) in the municipality and a curfew for kids under the age of 18, police said. Related: 90 Arrests As Proms, Memorial Day Combine For Chaotic Weekend In Seaside Heights

“Civil unrest” in Wildwood was also reported early Sunday, prompting a state of emergency that was lifted hours later. Read more: Authorities Issue Warning After Chaotic Weekend In Ocean City, Wildwood

But aside from the three “very serious incidents," the Jersey Shore saw an “overwhelmingly a successful weekend, including even in those towns,” Murphy told News12 during an Ask Gov. Murphy segment.

“On the one hand, you’re taking anything like this deadly seriously - we always have and we always will - including post-mortems on what we as a state can do to help out,” Murphy said before calling out "ridiculous" headlines about the weekend’s incidents.

“There was a hysterical header in the Star-Ledger today, which was ridiculous: the shore did not have a chaotic weekend,” the governor added. “There were three very serious incidents, but this was overwhelmingly a huge Memorial Day.”

Despite the serious incidents, state officials are still anticipating what may be the “biggest summer ever” down the shore, in part due to the sizzling summer forecast. The governor said he witnessed the “booming” crowds himself during a visit to the shore on Friday.

Additional incidents may follow if changes aren't implemented, according to the New Jersey State PBA. In an X post, the police union reported “out of control” and unsupervised teenagers intercepted by police along the shore over the weekend, warning “it will be a long summer if we don’t hold parents responsible. We all deserve better.”

NJ State PBA President Pete Andreyev sounds the alarm on weekend beach chaos, “Our officers did an outstanding job handling out of control and unsupervised teens all along the Jersey shore. It will be a long summer if we don’t hold parents responsible. We all deserve better.” pic.twitter.com/7nDcOzqqzA
— New Jersey State PBA (@NJSPBA) May 28, 2024

Republican lawmakers Joe Pennacchio (R-26) and Robert Singer (R-30) have already called for action on a bill to give police more power to patrol the shore.

That bill, S-399, would expand the categories of riot to include aggravated riot, inciting a riot and aggravated inciting a riot; and allow local government members to appeal police department funding cuts to the state. The legislation would also implement a mandatory six month minimum prison term for individuals who strike emergency personnel such as police officers.

“The dreadful activity in Ocean City was completely out of control and totally unacceptable," Pennacchio said. "It was yet another preventable incident, and it should never have happened, but the Legislature dropped the ball. Our bill would provide communities and law enforcement with the tools necessary to combat these riots."

In his remarks to News12, Murphy also noted "low uptake" in Wildwood this summer for seasonal Class II unarmed police officers. The state is currently working with local authorities to ensure they have the proper “level of manpower.”

The governor also pointed to a new law signed in January, which permits local authorities to charge minors in possession of alcohol or cannabis with a violation on a complaint-summons and dole out $100 fines.

If the underage person is under 18 years of age, a written notification is also provided to a parent or guardian.

“We think that [law] has put us in a much better place than we were a couple of years ago," Murphy added. "And again, it takes a village: it’s law enforcement, it’s moms and dads, it’s the kids themselves … and so let’s all come together here and make sure we have a great summer on our shore and on our lakes.”