TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Police Department is launching a "Kids Safety Card" ahead of the Gasparilla Children's Parade to help reunite kids who become lost with their parents.
"This is an additional safety measure which helps identify a missing child and expedite a safe reunification with parents," police wrote in a press release.
On the inside of the card is a line for parents to write their name and phone number.
The safety cards can be picked up from the following location's on Saturday ahead of the parade:
- From 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Bicycle Rodeo (Bayshore, southbound lanes, Rome to Dakota)
- From 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the Pre-Schooler Stroll (Bayshore, northbound lanes, Howard to Rome)
Law enforcement also recommends taking several steps to ensure safety at the event. Knowing directions and traffic detours ahead of time will help ensure a smoother experience for all, they said.
Parents should also take a picture of their child on the day of the children's parade to have an up-to-date photo to provide to police if they get lost.
In addition, authorities recommend having a meeting location if separated, texting your parking location to your phone, taking a picture of the nearest cross street to your car.
Along with the heavy police presence up and down Bayshore Boulevard, Tampa Police implemented its Joint Operation Center.
TPD, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Florida Department Law Enforcement and Tampa Fire and Rescue are a part of the operation. The JOC allows for quicker response times when emergency calls come in.
“We have a bunch of different cameras set up along the parade route and things like that. The neighboring neighborhoods. We also just have our active calls and any incoming calls that might come in," Emily Denny, the communications supervisor, explained.
"A lot of the events today are going to be what we call self-initiated events. That’s where an officer might come up and say, we have a suspicious package over here, as opposed to a citizen calling it in because there are so many officers saturating the area. So will have a lot of self-initiated events.”
The JOC will be implemented again next weekend for more Gasparilla events. More officers and entities will be brought in to accommodate the bigger crowds.
Families can text the word "Gasparilla" to 888777 to get event updates and notices sent to their phones.