Crime & Public Safety
Gainesville police boost patrols downtown and Midtown ahead of Ole Miss game
GainesVILLE — Gainesville police said they will increase uniformed patrols in downtown and Midtown and add extra monitoring at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium ahead of the Ole Miss game. The Gainesville Police Department and University of Florida police announced focused patrols during times of expected heightened activity, including gamedays.
According to the department, the increased presence is planned for periods when thousands of fans are expected in the area. Officers said they will conduct bar checks and maintain visible patrols around busy nightlife areas so they can respond more quickly to incidents and deter unsafe behavior. Art Forgey, a Gainesville Police Department public information officer, noted the volume of clubs and bars in Midtown and downtown as a reason for the stepped-up activity.
Police described the operation as coordinated between GPD and UF police, with extra “eyes on the crowds,” including at the Swamp and throughout downtown. The announcement came as members of the Ole Miss community were mourning two students whose deaths are being investigated in connection with kratom packages; police characterized that matter as under investigation.
The agencies framed the patrol increase as both enforcement and education: reminders to avoid underage drinking and that citations are possible if minors possess alcohol, plus general safety guidance for groups and patrons around bars and clubs. As provided by the department, current case status for the unrelated deaths is that they remain under investigation; no further enforcement or outcome details were listed by the agencies in the announcement.
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