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The other fleet behind Gasparilla's pirate fun

By ERNEST HOOPER
Published January 31, 2005

In the Seddon Channel, an armada of small watercraft dotted the watery landscape Saturday in front of the ships that brought in the various krewes for Gasparilla 2005.

But the ships also delivered a cargo of bedlam. Blank pistol shots rang out, smoke wafted, people screamed, horns blared. Bumper boats became an unwilling game on the channel.

Along Bayshore Boulevard, people were already two- and three-deep on the parade route, even though it would be three hours before the first float passed. In the nearby Publix parking lot, a cover band belted out rock tunes and vendors hawked everything from soda to cotton candy.

In the middle of all the revelry, Tampa police Capt. John Bennett sat in the quiet of his white sport utility vehicle atop the Platt Street bridge, hoping months of preparation would result in this special event being, well ... uneventful.

Bennett was one of the architects of the police department's strategic plan to keep the peace, maintain security, and ensure everyone had a fun and safe time. I don't use the word architect lightly, because the 20-year police veteran does have a degree in that discipline from the University of South Florida.

Of course, creating the design for Saturday's daylong invasion, parade and festival was a lot more complex than drawing up plans for a standard three-bed, two-bath home. Bennett was coordinating nearly 1,000 officers from an array of agencies, including the Hillsborough County Sherriff's Office and the Florida Highway Patrol.

Consider this: The Tampa Police Department alone had 700 officers working Saturday's parade.

And keep in mind that law enforcement officers have to guard against unruly behavior while handling traffic and remaining vigilant to the usual mayhem and crime, along with possible terrorist strikes. And they have to maintain focus while everyone else is throwing beads and throwing back beers.

"It's a tough assignment," Bennett said while monitoring the invasion on a screen in his car that provided a live feed from the Tampa police helicopter high above the city.

"You have to use a combination of enforcement and hospitality."

Most of the coordination comes from the command center, which is neatly tucked behind the Publix just north of Platt Street. The section of town used for Gasparilla is divided into specific areas: staging, invasion, parade routes, Pirate Fest, disbanding (where the parade ends) and neighborhoods.

Each area has a supervisor who can make decisions for the sector without waiting for an order to come down the chain.

"Everybody watches their own back yard," said Bennett, now in his third year as the police department's special events coordinator.

Before dawn, Bennett was in the command center evaluating traffic, parking and parade measures. Then officers combed the streets searching for anyone getting an early start on illegal participation.

One person was forced to remove a minicampground on public right of way. Some college-aged kids intent on selling beer saw their plan scuttled.

"You have a lot of people trying to capitalize on the day," Bennett said. "Unfortunately, they're trying to capitalize in illegal ways."

Meanwhile, bomb squad members on Harley-Davidson motorcycles combed the parade route looking for any unusual packages, a practice they repeated over and over before the parade started. And you thought they were just showing off on those bikes.

The police also added 17 mounted patrols this year to bring greater calm to the neighborhoods. Sometimes, parties get out of control or fights occur. Officer Mike Kochom, riding atop Red, said a horse can be worth 10 foot-patrol officers when it comes to crowd control.

It was noon as Bennett scanned the scene from his perch atop the bridge. He had been at work since 4 a.m., and it would be 10 p.m. before he got home.

And this is a fun day for Bennett?

"I know my life wouldn't be fulfilled if I wasn't a police officer," Bennett said. "I love public service."

Next year, think about all the work that police, fire, medical and city employees put into Gasparilla. Next year, forget about those breast-baring women.

Throw your beads to a cop.

That's all I'm saying.

--Ernest Hooper can be reached at 813 226-3406 or hooper@sptimes.com

[Last modified January 31, 2005, 00:38:15]