Benton Harbor Public Safety Adding Bicycle Patrol

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The Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety is adding a bicycle patrol this summer. Director Dan McGinnis says it’s part of the overall summer enforcement strategy. There will now be a total of five officers certified in bicycle patrol, focusing on the business district on the north side, some areas to the south where the department’s had trouble with juveniles and loud music, and also at the beach. McGinnis says bicycle patrol has two main benefits.

“People are more likely to engage with police officers on a bike because it is viewed as less intimidating,” McGinnis told WSJM. “From the other standpoint, we have the possibility to get to places where the squad car cannot get to.”

The bicycle patrol has been made possible with $8,000 in donations from local businesses. Whirlpool gave $5,000, Bud Distributing gave $1,500, and Prairie Real Estate Group gave $1,500. Bud Distributing and Prairie Real Estate presented their checks to the department  at Monday’s city commission meeting. Two city public safety officers are currently being trained for bicycle certification, and McGinnis says the bike patrols could begin Saturday.

Pictured from left to right: Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad, Prairie Real Estate’s Peter Colovis, Public Safety Director Dan McGinnis, Bud Distributing’s Jeff Nate, and Mayor Pro Tem Duane Seats at Monday’s city commission meeting.