Extra patrols on Silver Beach make for a safe 4th of July

St. Joseph, Mich. -- Extra patrols on Silver Beach make for a safe 4th of July

Celebrating the fourth on Silver Beach is one of the most popular things to do in Michiana for the holiday and, like always, thousands of people flocked to the shore for the firework show.

The large brawl on the beach two years ago led the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department to step up security. For the second year in a row, the extra patrols kept things calm.

“This is a wonderful tourist attraction both for the citizens and visitors of our area. We want them to enjoy the holiday and we just want them to be safe and to enjoy this wonderful beach,” says Chief Deputy Robert Boyce.

Deputy Boyce says each year the safety plan is reevaluated. This year, units from the Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police, and St. Joseph City Police Department  showed up at 9 a.m.

Deputy Boyce says they have a zero tolerance police for any misconduct on the beach. He says around twenty citations were given out during the day, all for alcohol possession. Seven of those were given to minors.