With early reports showing a second straight year of declining incidents of violent crime in the city, the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety’s partnership with the Michigan State Police continues to pay off and will be renewed through a newly established program beginning next month.
Michigan State Police officials say that early reporting based on 2020 data illustrates violent crime declined in the city of Benton Harbor by 12-percent when comparing reports from 2019. Additionally, total crime incidents represent nearly an 11-percent decrease when compared to the same incidents reported during the same time period of the previous year.
Notable highlights of the 2020 report come from the file classes of rape and robbery, in which both categories indicate declines of more than 38-percent (rape) and more than 42-percent (robbery) in 2020 when compared to 2019. That marks the second straight year of declines in those two categories. Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety Director Dan McGinnis said he was “Pleased with the reductions in the 2020 report” and is looking forward to improving upon them this year.
Since 2015, Benton Harbor has been a part of Michigan’s Secure Cities Partnership (SCP), which is an initiative developed in 2012 by the Michigan State Police (MSP) to address crime through a comprehensive system of “smart justice” that recognizes the connection between enforcement and community engagement.
During the initial development of the SCP, Major Case Units were established to enhance investigative efforts with local law enforcement. Three Michigan State Police detectives continue to work with Benton Harbor Public Safety detectives to aggressively investigate the city’s most violent crimes.
Beginning this April, the Secure Cities Partnership in Benton Harbor will be joined by the newly established Michigan State Police Fifth District Crime Prevention Squad (DCPS). That squad will be staffed by troopers from each of the district’s four posts. The primary purpose of that squad will be to focus on reducing violent crime and establish positive police and community relationships within the city of Benton Harbor and other communities.
There are strategic plans to engage in proactive patrols in targeted neighborhoods with goals of reducing the rate of aggravated assaults. Michigan State Police bicycle patrols will again be utilized to supplement community safety efforts and building trust through positive engagement. The District Crime Prevention Squad plan is to maintain a positive presence in the city of Benton Harbor through the first week of October.
