Waubee Lake Problems Irk Police
Milford Town Marshal Rich Miotto is concerned with recent events at the Waubee Lake beach and asked the town council to intervene.
Miotto told the council Monday night he has received complaints from a Nelson Drive homeowner that swimmers are crossing the corner of the lake late in the evening and jumping off of a private, anchored raft. Miotto said the homeowner claims to have rescued two such swimmers, including a young girl who could not make it back to shore.
“To be honest, I’m really upset with what goes on out there anyway at the beach,” Miotto said. “We’ve arrested, since the fourth, seven people – two of them just 20 minutes ago. One of them battered our lifeguard.” Fourteen people were ejected from the park during the same period.
Drinking, smoking, swearing and people using the swimming area late at night are other problems that both the police department and, recently, Cockburn have dealt with.
“This is my feeling: I’d close it down and leave it open for Milford residents only,” Miotto said. Right now you’ve got people coming from as far away as Gary and North Manchester. One of the four arrested on the fourth just got out of jail in Chicago and has a criminal record.”
A sign posted at the beach says that Waubee park closes at dusk. To combat the problem of swimmers remaining in the water and outside of the ropes after dark, Ruch asked Miotto to increase patrols at the park as the manpower to do so is available. Cockburn also encouraged Miotto to make arrests, when warranted, in order to send a message to others. Council members also agreed to inquire about what part-time law enforcement the town could hire without having to go to the expense of sending someone to the police academy.
For a complete accounting of Monday’s town council meeting, see this week’s issue of The Mail-Journal.