South Haven Adjusts Police Allocations For Summer

southhavencityhall1-15
southhavencityhall1-15

The South Haven Police Department is adjusting how it uses its staff as the busy summer continues and fewer applicants for positions as police officers come in. Chief Natalie Thompson sent a note to the city council this month she has pulled detectives to help with uniform patrol. City Manager Kate Hosier tells WSJM News another problem is that the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department can’t provide as much supplemental support this year.

“They do send in some folks, and I think they do have some supplemental officers and reserves,” Hosier said. “We are not seeing that they have a lot of extra bodies this year as well, based on what Chief Thompson has written.”

Hosier says the sheriff’s department is providing reserve officers for big events like the art fair and festivals. For regular weekends, the local police department has to be flexible.

“We do reallocate where we do have people, and she mentioned, we’ll be having some detectives come back on the road and of course she’s taking some road complaints as well.”

Hosier says the city hasn’t had seasonal officers in years. Chief Thompson notes in her letter Michigan State Police are also facing staffing shortages.