The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department is working to address the ongoing issues with fights shutting down Silver Beach County Park in St. Joseph.

Sheriff Chuck Heit stood alongside St. Joseph Department of Public Safety Director Steve Neubecker during the St. Joseph City Commission meeting last week to talk about how they intend to improve the situation. Heit said he’s looking at options on the county level.

“We’re working with our corporate council to look at the current ordinance that’s set for Silver Beach and ways we may be able to change some things when it comes to trespassing,”Heit said. “Other issues, I’ve authorized what we call 90-day misdemeanors — disturbing peace — to be lodged in jail. For that, we’re looking at the juvenile issue, working with the juvenile center, and just trying to hold people accountable for their actions.”

A fight involving a group of young people who showed up to the beach around 8 p.m. last Sunday led to some citations and the park being shut down early.