Crime at a state park has town leaders asking for help

DOUGLAS, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Concerns about crime at a state park beach have town leaders begging state officials for help.

Town officials in Douglas said after Memorial Day weekend, the beach at Wallum Lake in Douglas State Park becomes crowded with visitors from Rhode Island and Connecticut who have been tied to a rise a in criminal activity.

“Our concern is that when it's hot and humid and people have been drinking, that things can escalate quickly,” selectman Tim Bonin told FOX25.

Bonin said town police have responded to stabbings, gang fights and drug activity at the beach, which takes resources away from residents in town.

“I tell people all the time, don't have a heart attack in downtown, because if the traffic is crazy out here, it's gonna take us a while to get to you. That's just the cold hard truth of it,” Bonin said. “As a selectman in town, it is my single biggest concern.”

In other state parks, the Department on Conservation and Recreation pays for park rangers or patrols by state troopers.

But Bonin said the town's requests for resources or reimbursements to the police department for services – which they estimate to be at $50,000 a year – have fallen on deaf ears at DCR.

“The short response would be, duck and move. Push the little town off.” Bonin said.

Frustrated with DCR, Douglas officials turned to Senator Ryan Fattman for help.

Senator Fattman has pushed for the town to impose additional fees for out-of-state visitors that would then go into a special “trust fund” the town could use for police resources.

“This is a viable source of income,” Sen. Fattman said. “We would like to see more reinforcements in Douglas.”

Sen. Fattman said the plan would not be approved until the state budget is approved, possibly July 1.

It is good news for Douglas residents, but Bonin said there is still unease about what could happen – until relief funds begin coming in.

“I want to see this fixed. It has to be fixed for public safety, for the park itself,” Bonin said.

Cox Media Group