Zero tolerance after Long Beach melee

Long Beach authorities are vowing a zero-tolerance approach to future disturbances in the aftermath of an oceanfront melee that broke out Memorial Day evening.

"We will not tolerate hooliganism," said Long Beach City Manager Charles Theofan. "If you're guilty of disorderly conduct, you're going to get locked up."

Monday's disturbances involved about 50 beachgoers, mostly of high school age, Theofan said. Those beachgoers were among hundreds of young people who had taken public buses to the beach from Roosevelt, Uniondale and Hempstead, officials said. The melee required Long Beach city police to seek backup from their Nassau County and MTA police counterparts, authorities said.

The disturbances started near Edwards Boulevard and the boardwalk with arguing, then escalated to pushing and fistfights, Theofan said. When police officers would move in to quell the violence, the fighting would abruptly stop, he said.

"The cops were going from one fight to another fight to another fight," he said.

One young man from Hempstead was charged with marijuana possession.

There were no injuries or property damage, and no arrests were made in connection with the fighting.

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"We were looking to take a gentler approach," Theofan said.

But future disorder will be dealt with more swiftly, police said.

Theofan said he met with police brass Tuesday to strategize on how to handle the rest of the summer.

Police said they will consider increased patrols and rapid arrests -- a sentiment Theofan echoed.

"If people are coming here to cause trouble, they might as well stay home, 'cause we're not going to allow it," he said.