Benton Harbor public safety staff highlight national training recognition and drop in major crimes
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Public safety officials told the committee that Benton Harbor instructors and the city program are cited in a new national fire‑instructor textbook and reported a roughly 24% drop in certain crimes this year, while defending limited public detail on an ongoing, multi‑jurisdiction investigation.
The Public Safety & Public Works Committee heard Tuesday that Benton Harbor’s fire‑training program has been cited in a new nationwide fire instructor textbook and that city investigators have driven down key crime measures this year.
A Public Safety Department representative showed the committee the new fire‑instructor manual and said the city’s instructors and the Benton Harbor Public Safety program are referenced multiple times, adding, "we are Benton Harbor." The department framed the citation as the result of work begun with the city’s 2021 fire academy and described instructors teaching on a national level.
The chief briefed the committee on operations and investigation strategy, saying overall vehicle burglaries and stolen vehicles were each down to one in the last month and that the department’s clearance rate on major felonies is "in the nineties." The chief explained that some investigations have been coordinated across jurisdictions — including Benton Township and federal task‑force partners — and that staff withhold operational details so detectives can pursue leads without compromising cases.
Commissioners asked follow‑up questions about staffing and communications. Staff introduced a newly hired administrative assistant (name referenced in the packet) and said the department will continue selective public communications to protect investigations and victims.
The committee did not record a formal vote during the report section; the chief invited further questions and thanked commissioners for support. The department said it will continue to provide regular updates and noted some metrics (clearance rates and percentage declines) are internal performance measures derived from the department’s casework.