(Wahpeton)– Look for an increased presence of law enforcement again this Fourth of July Holiday period in the Gull Point area. That word today (Tues.) from Kevin Szcodronski, Chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources State Parks Bureau. He tells KUOO news this year’s special enforcement will once again be conducted in cooperation with that agency, the Lakes Patrol, the Iowa State Patrol, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dickinson County Attorney’s Office.
Szcodronski says the increased enforcement will still go on even in light of the tight budget, adding they still have the same number of permanent staff in the lakes area this summer as in the past.
Szcodronski adds they were very pleased with the effect the increased enforcement had last year, saying they only had a couple of minor incidents.
Szcodronski says if things go just right, crowds this coming Fourth of July at Gull Point and other popular attractions around the Iowa Great Lakes will likely surpass those of last year and recent years in the past.
Problems in the past with public urination, nudity, fights, excessive drinking and so on in the Gull Point area over past Fourth of July holidays is what prompted the DNR to step up its patrols in that area. Szcodronski says those problems escalated when cities around the lakes banned alcohol at their beaches, sending partiers to beaches at state parks instead.
