When thousands of people gathered near Galveston over the weekend, they brought their Jeeps – but left their tops behind.
More than 100,000 people meet up every year for Jeep Weekend, also known as “Go Topless Weekend,” on the Bolivar Peninsula near Galveston, according to the county website. The event causes “serious public safety and life safety emergencies for visitors and residents alike.”
This year, the event took place May 14 to 18. Police made 286 arrests, according to KPRC. Officials filed 290 misdemeanor charges and 53 felonies and recovered 43 firearms.
Ahead of the event, the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office announced it would crack down on illegal activity.
“This year, the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office is taking a proactive stance to enhance public safety for everyone involved, focusing on both the beaches and surrounding communities,” the sheriff’s office posted to Facebook.
According to the post, the office would maintain “a strong law enforcement presence along the beaches and roadways,” educate attendees on local laws, and “strictly” enforce regulations. Deputies joined 17 local, county, and state police agencies to “safeguard the roadways, beaches, and communities.”
Galveston County Sheriff’s Department, Galveston County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and Galveston County Emergency Services District #2 supported law enforcement over the weekend. Texas Department of Public Safety troopers also assisted, along with Houston Police Department officers.
By Saturday, the sheriff’s office reported 161 arrests, 165 misdemeanors, and 23 felonies, and recovered 30 guns. By Sunday, the sheriff’s office reported 275 arrests—278 misdemeanors and 52 felonies—and had confiscated 42 guns.
“The Sheriff’s Office will maintain a heightened level of vigilance today, increasing manpower until tomorrow morning,” the sheriff’s office posted to Facebook on May 18. “We are committed to closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of all attendees and the surrounding community.”
Jeep Weekend has historically brought “homicides, shootings, sexual assaults, fatality crashes, assaults, and other acts of disorderly conduct” to the area, according to the county website. This leads first responders to struggle with things like traffic control, accessibility, lack of medical resources, and even “unpredictable tides.”
Last year, the “Go Topless” Jeep Weekend brought a deadly shooting. And in 2022, a drunk driver fatally struck Sgt. John Hamm during the event.
“Sergeant Hamm served with dedication and commitment to our community, and his loss is felt deeply by all,” the sheriff’s office posted. “We honor his memory and encourage everyone to prioritize safety on our roads. Let us work together to ensure that such tragedies do not happen again.”