After Chaotic Memorial Day Weekend, Jersey Shore Town Looks For Solutions, Help

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ — Going into Memorial Day weekend, Seaside Heights officials believed they were ready for what they anticipated to be a busy weekend, particularly for law enforcement.

The borough had gone to court to stop a pop-up party that had circulated on social media. A curfew banning teens under 18 from the streets after 10 p.m. was in active. Ordinances barring teens from short-term rentals during prom season were in place.

Police Chief Thomas Boyd had been in touch with other law enforcement agencies to line up assistance in case there was a need.

The events of the weekend, however, far exceeded the worst expectations of everyone involved: Three stabbings, more than 70 arrests, multiple fights and general chaos as thousands of people filled the town, prompting Boyd to shut down the boardwalk early Monday morning.

While much of the focus has been on juveniles causing problems, "It was not only kids," Boyd told the Asbury Park Press, saying the weekend was worse than 2024, where there were 90 arrests. "These were the most belligerent people I've ever seen. They had no respect for the police."

In the days since, town officials have turned inward as they try to come up with answers on how to curtail the behavior.

Mayor Anthony Vaz told NJ.com on Wednesday that he had been in touch with Gov. Phil Murphy to seek the assistance of New Jersey State Police.

"We discussed the challenges of the last weekend and how, in my opinion, it was terrible," Vaz said, according to the report. "I’ve never seen anything like this. I’m confident enough to know that if I request police reinforcement from the state police, I know they’ll be there."

A New Jersey State Police spokesman said there has not been an official request for help from Seaside Heights but added: "As we have consistently done in the past, we stand ready to support our local and county law enforcement partners whenever such requests are made through the appropriate channels."

"The New Jersey State Police remains committed to working in close partnership with local police departments and county agencies to ensure public safety across our state," Sgt. Charles Marchan said.

Vaz did not return messages seeking additional comment, and a borough official said the mayor had instructed staff to not discuss the events further.

The Borough Council is likely to discuss options on what more the town can do when the council meets on Wednesday, June 4, but municipal officials and law enforcement across the state are looking to the state Legislature and Murphy to take action on a bill that would create a new criminal charge, inciting a public brawl, which authorities hope will give them the leverage to hold unruly teens and adults accountable for their bad behavior.

The pending bill, A-4652, was conditionally vetoed by Murphy on May 8. It has since been amended by the state Assembly to address issues raised in the conditional veto on May 15 and the Assembly passed the amended version May 22 by a 74-1-2 vote.

On Thursday, the state Senate officially received the bill and agreed to the changes. It is scheduled for a full Senate vote on Monday. Assuming it passes and Murphy signs it into law, it would take effect immediately.

Inciting a public brawl would be a fourth-degree crime, punishable by up to 18 months in prison and fines up to $10,000.