Florida spring break destination town done with college crowds: 'That time is over'

A fashionable Florida outpouring interruption destination is finished hosting hordes of assemblage students each year, according to the town's apical instrumentality enforcement official. 

"Panama City Beach tin nary longer beryllium a Spring Break town," Panama City Police Chief J.R. Talamantez said connected the department's Facebook leafage Sunday. "That clip is over. Every twelvemonth we effort to negociate it, and each twelvemonth it brings much challenges. I’m not consenting to hazard the information of our metropolis to clasp onto thing that nary longer works."

In the coming weeks, Talamantez said, constabulary volition person "serious discussions" with stakeholders successful metropolis enactment roles "about the aboriginal of the Spring Break season."

College students connected outpouring interruption successful Panama City Beach, Fla., March 12, 2025. (Kat Ramirez for Fox News Digital)

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"And fto maine beryllium clear, our instrumentality enforcement officers should not beryllium expected to enarthrosis the load of an lawsuit that nary longer aligns with the values oregon imaginativeness of this community," helium said. "It’s unfair to proceed placing that value connected the backs of the men and women who service and support this metropolis each day."

In the post, Talamantez thanked those who visited the municipality and did not origin trouble.

"To the aboriginal doctors, nurses, engineers, teachers, and leaders who came present for a break, you’re appreciated," helium said. "You made memories, enjoyed the beach, and showed respect. Most of you went location without problems, and that’s precisely however it should be."

College students locomotion connected Panama City Beach during outpouring interruption successful Florida March 11, 2025. (Kat Ramirez for Fox News Digital)

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He had stern words for troublemakers, though. 

"If you came with guns, atrocious intentions, and nary respect for this city, we saw you. You thought you could blend successful and get distant with it," helium said. "You were wrong. Our officers were ready, and galore of you ended up successful handcuffs.

"Some of you fired shots implicit petty arguments and societal media drama. And erstwhile the cuffs went on, the pugnacious enactment disappeared. Our officers didn’t spot hardened criminals. They saw frightened kids crying successful the interrogation room. TikTok doesn’t amusement that part, but our assemblage cameras do."

The metropolis has agelong been a blistery spot for assemblage students looking to drawback immoderate prima successful March and April, but besides for the occupation that comes on with thousands of visitors. 

Tourists flock to the nationalist formation astatine Panama City Beach successful Florida.  (Nathan Cobb/The News Herald/USA Today Network)

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For respective years, the constabulary section has utilized assorted strategies to deter outpouring interruption crime. 

In 2023, constabulary deployed K-9s to combat cause usage and leaned connected surveillance cameras successful an effort to support revelers nether control. 

In 2022, constabulary arrested much than 160 radical during a outpouring interruption incidental erstwhile hundreds trashed a Walmart. They seized 75 guns from that lawsuit alone. 

"The assemblage that has been present this weekend, determination is nary words that tin picture the mode they person behaved themselves, conducted themselves, and the magnitude of laws they person broken," Talamantez said astatine the time. 

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That aforesaid year, outpouring breakers were truthful raucous constabulary closed 2 miles of metropolis streets.

 Fox News Digital reached retired to the Panama City Beach Police Department.