Following a shooting at Jean Klock Park on Monday, the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety is working with the community to improve safety and police response at the attraction.
Some residents of the Edgewater Dunes area addressed the Benton Harbor Public Safety and Public Works Committee Wednesday to express concerns about issues they’ve seen at the park even before the shooting. One woman said young visitors have been driving recklessly, among other things, suggesting more of a police presence is needed.
“We believe the removal of the staff gatehouse, the physical gates, and the road spikes in favor of the automated parking kiosk has left the park without meaningful access control or deterrence. And so the shooting that we’re talking about suggests that the park has become a regional draw for some dangerous activity precisely because there’s no accountability at the entrance.”
Another resident said she’s seen what appears to be drug activity or even prostitution in one area of the park. And one woman said it doesn’t feel safe for families.
“Some of the activity that I want to say caused a lot of news last year and years prior at Silver Beach, now my sentiment is I feel like that’s spilling over to Jean Klock.”
It was noted at the meeting that none of the parties involved in Monday’s shooting were from Benton Harbor. They were all from Indiana.
Public Safety Director Dan McGinnis said as far as the shooting goes, his department has been having problems with communication with 911 dispatch. They’re working to resolve them after Monday’s incident.
“There’s four residents at Grand that said they called 911 about 20 minutes before it really escalated to the point of the shooting,” McGinnis said. “Well, we were sitting in our office. The way we knew is, we heard the initial dispatch of ‘shots fired, man down.’ Not the first time. There was never anything about, there’s a 911 call of conflict at Jean Klock Park.”
McGinnis said he’s meeting with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department and St. Joseph Public Safety on Thursday to discuss a plan. He added his department will remain transparent and open with the public.
“We got caught with our pants down. That’s a problem…So that’s not going to happen again.”
McGinnis said he’ll work with residents to address concerns and seek additional patrols at the park
City Manager Alex Little also noted parking attendants for Jean Klock Park are currently being trained, meaning more of a city presence will be a regular feature at the attraction.
