Increased police presence proposed for Ultra festival

MIAMI (WSVN) -- This year's Ultra Music Festival could see heightened security, according to a City of Miami County Commission meeting, Thursday.

Commission Chairman Francis Suarez proposed an increase of 100 police officers this year, with an addition of 300 positions to the department over the next three years.

The potential law enforcement boost met with the approval of City of Miami Police Chief Manuel Orosa. "This is a preliminary conversation we're having now with the commission as to taking these steps now, so we don't have a problem in the next couple years," he said.

Ultra Music Festival is scheduled to take place in Downtown Miami over two weekends in March. The annual event has been linked to large crowds and heavy drug use. Today's meeting addressed another proposal that would prohibit Ultra from adding a second week.

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