Florida State Guard Partnership Ensures Safe Seas at 2026 Gasparilla Pirate Fest
- FSG Media
- Feb 23
- 2 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT
FSG Press Office
Tampa, Fla.—In January, the Florida State Guard (FSG) partnered with the Tampa Police Department (TPD) to provide operational assistance during the 2026 Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest.
Through this support, FSG’s Maritime Response Squadron (MRS) contributed four off-shore
vessels, each staffed with a full crew, that reinforced TPD’s fleets in ensuring maritime safety
to the Gasparilla flotilla and festival attendees.
“Because of the operational assistance [FSG] provided, along with the officers’ display of
professionalism and teamwork, the Tampa Police Department was able to ensure this event
was safe and successful,” said Tampa Chief of Police Lee Bercaw. “All [FSG] officers played a
leading role in the event’s success by making sure the parade route and our neighborhoods
were safe and welcoming to both the participants and those attending the festivities. The
presence of this multi-jurisdictional law enforcement contingent provided a strong level of
security that was evident to everyone.”
More than 300,000 visitors attended the 2026 Gasparilla Pirate Fest, creating a critical need
for coordinated, multi-agency support to assist TPD operations.
The event also presented challenging environmental conditions, including unusually low
temperatures, 20-mile-per-hour wind gusts on land, and gale-force winds on the water,
making this one of the coldest Gasparilla celebrations on record.
FSG’s support helped ensure public safety while protecting one of Tampa’s most significant
annual economic drivers for local businesses.
Partnerships such as this reflect FSG’s commitment to protecting Floridians on water, land,
and during high-stakes events.
ABOUT FLORIDA STATE GUARD | WHEN DISASTER CALLS, WE ANSWER.
With a heritage dating back to WWII, the Florida State Guard was reactivated in 2022 as a
state-supported volunteer force to provide rapid emergency response. Since the modern
relaunch, the Florida State Guard’s continued growth in capability and personnel
strengthens Florida’s emergency response in aviation, maritime, and land-based operations.
The Florida State Guard is committed to protecting the life and property of Florida from all
threats to public safety. For more information, visit https://www.floridastateguard.org/ .
