City on Lake Michigan Praised for Hiring New Police Chief with Water Safety Experience

SOUTH HAVEN, MI — There’s a new public safety leader in town on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Adam DeBoer has been named South Haven’s new police chief in recognition of his “stellar work” in the interim role, the city said in a statement on Monday, Nov. 24.

DeBoer has worked for the South Haven Police Department for more than 20 years.

Water safety advocates applauded the promotion, pointing out how DeBoer has deep experience in water safety and lifeguard training.

MLive featured DeBoer while he was partaking in a 2013 lifeguard training on Lake Michigan.

“It is a glorious day for water safety now that South Haven has named an open water surf lifeguard expert as its ‘Top’ of public safety,” said Dave Benjamin, executive director of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project.

“Congratulations Chief DeBoer,” he said. “We expect your history of lifeguard rescue training will bring great things to Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes!”

His experience fits with the current city agenda. Last week, the City Council voted unanimously to move forward with the creation of a lifeguard program.

DeBoer joined the department as a police officer in 2004 and he was promoted to sergeant in 2017. He served as interim police chief since April.

In that role, he oversaw all police department operations like community event planning and coordinating cooperation between local law enforcement agencies.

“Adam is a dedicated and experienced leader who knows and cares deeply about South Haven, its people and the department,” South Haven City Manager Kate Hosier said.

“He’s done an incredible job for the past seven months as he’s worked to strengthen the relationship between our officers, residents, businesses and visitors while advancing the department’s commitment to public safety and community policing,” she said.

As interim chief, DeBoer demonstrated his leadership abilities by managing complex initiatives and enhancing department operations, the city said.

He ensured full staffing of the department and reinstated positions including the school resource officer. He advanced two new officers through field training and helped enroll a police recruit at the Grand Valley State University Police Academy, the city said. The recruit will begin field training in the new few weeks.

DeBoer demonstrated commitment to his department’s career advancement by enrolling officers in 35 classes through the West Michigan Training Consortium.

“I am deeply honored to serve as the South Haven Police Chief,” DeBoer said. “I want to thank the community for their trust and support.

“Our department is built on a foundation of service, and I am eager to lead our dedicated officers as we work together to keep our neighborhoods safe and strengthen our connection with the people we serve.”

The city, with nearly 4,000 people as of the 2020, has a police force that is called to respond to the Lake Michigan beaches.

People have drowned there in the past, resulting in litigation against the city that remains in progress.

DeBoer was named interim chief after former Chief Dennis Honholt resigned as South Haven police chief on April 24.

Honholt never resigned from his previous role as police chief in Dover, Tennessee, a city northwest of Nashville, when he took the South Haven job.

South Haven leaders, upon finding out, said they were “shocked and disappointed.”

Before Honholt, Kevin Swope served as police chief for only about a month. The turnover comes after Natalie Thompson retired from the role, which she had from 2016 to 2024.

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