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The dedicated men and women employed by the South Haven Police Department proudly provide citizens residing in and visiting the City of South Haven with law enforcement services twenty-four hours a day, three hundred sixty-five days a year. The members of the South Haven Police Department provide needed police services in all aspects of law enforcement. The department is currently authorized twenty-one certified sworn police officers. These officers provide round-the-clock patrol as well as other law enforcement services consistent with the agency's community policing philosophy. The South Haven Police Department also operates the "9-1-1" dispatch center that is staffed by five full-time dispatchers.

The patrol and dispatch functions are supported by administrative services that are provided by a staff of dedicated civilian employees. These include one full-time administrative secretary, one part-time records management clerk and one part-time transcriptionist.

We sincerely hope that you take the time to peruse our website and give us your input.

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The Operations Division is the most visible arm of the South Haven Police Department. The department currently has a patrol division made up of:

• Three Sergeants
  
• Eleven Patrol Officers
  

Together these men and women are responsible for the safety and security of the citizens, visitors and businesses in the City of South Haven. The Operations Division responds to thousands of calls annually that range from basic service calls to life-threatening emergencies. Officers in the Operations Division conduct pro-active community oriented patrol, investigate reported and officer initiated crimes, conduct follow-up investigations, effect arrests to maintain law and order, investigate traffic crashes and perform a myriad of other related law enforcement functions on a minute-to-minute basis.

Other functions of the Operations Division see four officers assigned full-time to the following functions:

• School Liaison Officer
  
• Community Policing Officer
  
• South West Enforcement Team drug investigative unit

The Operations Division has officers trained and certified as instructors in many areas that assist the department in fulfilling its mission. These areas of specialization include:

• Evidence Technicians
  
• Traffic Crash Investigators
  
• Empty Hand Self Defense Techniques
  
• Firearms
  
• Child Passenger Safety Restraint
  
• Residential/Business Security
  
• Bicycle Patrol Operations
  

During the tourist season the department hires fully certified police officers to patrol the downtown area, city parks and city beaches. These officers are also assigned to the Operations Division.

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Although the Operations Division is tasked with investigating crimes as one of their many duties, certain types of criminal investigations require a tremendous amount of investigative techniques. When an extremely complex situation requires special investigative skills or resources beyond the scope of the Operations Division personnel, it is assigned to the Department's Investigator for follow-up investigation. The Investigator is responsible for all aspects of criminal investigations assigned to him/her until a final resolution is reached. The Investigator typically works normal “business hours” from Monday through Friday. This person is on-call during all off-duty hours to assist the Operations Division whenever requested. Typical cases handled by the Investigator are all felony cases that involve homicide/suspicious death, serious assaults resulting in injury, robbery, rape, burglary, auto theft and any other sensitive case as assigned by the Chief of Police.

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The Police School Liaison Officer Program began during the 1997/98-school year funded by a four-year grant from the Office of Drug Control Policy. This program was designed to place a full-time officer in the high school to provide law enforcement services with two primary goals in mind.

The first goal is the prevention of juvenile delinquency. In order to accomplish this goal, the School Liaison Officer must:

• Instruct certain classes to various school groups.
  
• Mentor students and assist in counseling when requested by school staff.
  
• Maintain contacts with parents of students exhibiting anti-social behaviors.
  

The second goal is improving police-community relations. In order to accomplish this goal, the School Liaison Officer:

• Makes public appearances and presents information about the program to area service, civic and youth clubs.
  
• Is actively involved as an advisor of the “Key Club”, a Kiwanis sponsored service club for school age youth at the high school.
  
• Makes presentations at local parents groups.
  
• Works with other agencies in Van Buren County on juvenile related issues.
  
• Coordinates the Police Explorer Program for high school students considering a career in law enforcement.
  

Due to the School Liaison Officer Program success during the first four years resulting in a drastic reduction in the overall number of complaints at the high school, the program has been extended beyond the original grant period.

Off. William Baker is the current School Liaison Officer at L.C. Mohr High School. Off. Baker has been in law enforcement since 1987 when he began his career with the South Haven Police Department. In 1989 he took a position with the Portage Police Department where he served as the school liaison officer at Portage Central High School. He returned to the South Haven Police Department in 1998 where he continues to serve this community and its youth.

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When incidents occur where the services of clergy versed in police operations are needed, the Police Chaplain is of great value not only to the police, but also to members of the community who are confronted by tragedy.

The Police Chaplain serves the police department and members of the community assisting with situations that create emotional, mental and spiritual burdens that adversely affect them and their family and loved ones. Rev. Timothy McGee is the South Haven Police Department Chaplain. Chaplain McGee knows that a police officer's job is an extremely difficult one. As a former police officer himself, he has a unique insight to the special stresses, tensions and emotional burdens associated with a career in law enforcement and the effects that they pose on the officers and their families. Chaplain McGee strives to create a relationship with officers where they will feel free to turn to him for counsel at any time. Chaplain McGee rides frequently with the officers on patrol and assists the department during special events whenever needed. He makes himself available to listen to problems and concerns within the department and to share the grief, sorrows and joys both individually and collectively with members of the police department.

Profile of Chaplain Timothy McGee:

• Served with SHPD since August/’95.
  
• Member of the International Conference of Police Chaplains
  
• Member of IFCA International.
  
• Holds a Chaplains endorsement from the Bible Churches Chaplaincy.
  
• Member of the Van Buren County Crisis Response Team.
  
• Is a certified Critical Incident Debriefer.
  
• Instructs police officers in death notification procedures.
  

Services:

The Police Chaplain may be called to assist an officer in a variety of situations that include:

• Death Notifications & emergency messages.
  
• Providing comfort to victims, families & officers at traumatic incidents.
  
• Give confidential counsel to police department personnel.
  
• Provide a moral/ethical foundation to police personnel.
  
• Provide referral & resource assistance as requested.
  
• Provide pastoral functions at special events (i.e. graduations, award ceremonies etc.).
• Preside at weddings/funerals or other religious events as requested.
  
• Assist with Critical Incident Stress Debriefings.
  
• Serve as a liaison with other local clergy.
  
• Liaison with police families in the event of a line of duty injury or death.
  

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