Cape May County Prosecutor's Office and Wildwood Police Department respond to potential "Pop-up" party threat

PRESS RELEASE

CAPE MAY COUNTY, NJ - Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland and Wildwood Police Chief Joseph Murphy today issued a joint statement regarding an ongoing investigation into a social media post promoting a potential "Pop-up" party, dubbed "Project X," in Wildwood during the upcoming season. 

The investigation was launched following concerns raised by the promotion of the event, which has not been authorized or sanctioned by local authorities. In their statement, Prosecutor Sutherland and Chief Murphy made clear their commitment to preventing any illegal, unsanctioned gatherings that may compromise public safety and disrupt the peace of the Wildwood community.

"We are fully aware of the risks that these unsanctioned 'Pop-up' parties pose to the public safety, including crowd control issues, the potential for violence and the strain they place on our law enforcement resources," said Prosecutor Sutherland. "We are actively working to identify the individuals behind the promotion of this event and will pursue every legal avenue to prevent it from taking place.

"We will not tolerate any illegal gatherings that disrupt the safety and well-being of the residents of Cape May County, visitors and law enforcement personnel."

Prosecutor Sutherland and Chief Murphy remind the public that these types of unsanctioned events, which have occurred throughout New Jersey's shore towns in recent years, can lead to dangerous and unpredictable outcomes, including overcrowding, illegal drug use, public disturbances and violent confrontations.

Chief Murphy would also like to remind all legal guardians that Wildwood has a 10 pm curfew for all juveniles, which is strictly enforced. Additionally, we now have the authority, and we will pursue charges against the legal guardians for allowing their sons or daughters to be out without them after 10 pm.

Both the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office and Wildwood Police Department urge anyone with information about the event or the individuals responsible for promoting it to come forward. Tips can be reported anonymously to the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office or the Wildwood Police Department.

Prosecutor Sutherland and Chief Murphy urge anyone who may have additional information relating to this event to contact the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office at 609-465-1135, the Wildwood Police Department Detective Division at 609-522-0222 or anonymously through the Prosecutor's Office website at cmcpo.tips.

The safety of the community remains the highest priority for both agencies, and they are committed to ensuring that all public gatherings in Wildwood are properly planned, permitted and secure.