NEWAYGO, COUNTY Mich. — If you’re planning to head out to the Muskegon River, you may be seeing more police patrolling the area.
They will be out in boats on the water and in marked cars along the river.
On Tuesday, the Newaygo County Sheriff’s Office announced deputies, state troopers, conservation officers and Newaygo City police will be patrolling the Muskegon River this summer to keep everyone safe and make sure they’re following the law.
“This is a proactive enforcement approach to keep the river safe and keep rowdy behavior under control,” Sheriff Pat Hedlund said in a press release.
Police note they’ve had problems in the past with underage drinking, intoxication, inappropriate behavior, trespassing and littering, They also said there have been issues with drug use and damage done to private property.
Sheriff Hedlund said illegal activity has reduced dramatically since the launch of the summer program three years ago. The program called, “River Watch,” is in partnership with the Department of Natural Resources, the Michigan State Police and the Newaygo Police Department. Homeowners and volunteers are also asked to report any violations.
“We want people to have fun and enjoy Newaygo County, we only ask that they do it responsibly and respectfully,” said Hedlund.
