Benton Harbor shares new plan sparked by recent gun violence

BENTON HARBOR, Mich.-- In light of the recent crime uptick, Benton Harbor is teaming up with Berrien County Sheriff's Deputies to put more manpower on the streets to not only help residents feel safer, but to send a message.

Benton Harbor city officials officials gathered to unveil a plan that could "stop the violence, stop the silence," after four recent shootings that are shaking the community. 

Police, pastors and leaders coming together for peace.

"It has to be a joined community effort, has to be," says Daniel McGinnis Jr., the Director of the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety. "We can't simply be just law enforcement going out, there's got to be citizens. We have to work with out ministers, we know ministers touch families. Work with our apartment managers, get back to establishing our programs. Work closer with out businesses, work with our schools in our community."

Berrien County Sheriffs Deputies are donating $8,000 to the $25,000 Benton Harbor commissioners are investing in the project, immediately. 

Mamie Yarbrough, Berrien County District Commissioner, announced "the administration of Berrien County committed $25,000 to pay for overtime for deputys to come into Benton Harbor."

Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad says when compared, the four deaths per 10,000 people in Benton Harbor is equal to 1200 deaths in one night in Chicago. 

Despite the mayor's comparison, none of these weeks shootings were deadly.

Benton Harbor Police said that this is just the beginning of the operation. 

In the future, be on the lookout for more programs, like neighborhood watches.

Right now, police are still seeking suspects for those shootings and are stressing the importance of "see something, say something."