Key takeaways
- Jeffersonville increased police presence on the Big Four Bridge after recent incidents on Louisville’s side, including a homicide and juvenile disturbances
- Mayor Mike Moore warned that anyone causing trouble on the Jeffersonville side will face strict consequences
- Residents say the Indiana side remains safe, with regular police patrols
JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) — Jeffersonville officials have increased police presence at the Big Four Bridge following recent incidents in Louisville’s Waterfront Park area.
On Sunday, Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore said he is concerned about potential trouble spilling over from Louisville into Jeffersonville.
“Either Louisville deals with the problem on the bridge or we will,” Moore said.
Louisville Metro Police reported responding to multiple incidents at Waterfront Park on Saturday night, involving mostly, if not entirely, unaccompanied juveniles.
Officers confiscated a firearm, cited a juvenile, and released them to a guardian. Police did not provide additional details or specify how many juveniles were involved.
At the time of the incidents, no adults were present.
In a separate recent case, Jeffersonville Police responded to a large fight involving teenagers on the bridge around 11 p.m.
“Where are the parents?” Louisville resident William Wright said while reacting to the fight.
Earlier Friday around 3 a.m., a man was shot and killed near the splash pad area at Waterfront Park on the Louisville side of the bridge.
LMPD officers regularly patrol the bridge and park at various times, though no officers were present during the early morning homicide.
Sherry Miyahara, who lives near the Big Four Bridge in Jeffersonville, said police presence is consistent on the Indiana side.
“Whether you see the cars, whether you see them or not, they’re here,” she said.
Miyahara said she considers the Jeffersonville side very safe but feels uneasy hearing about incidents across the river.
“Nobody needs to be out here at 3 o’clock in the morning,” she said. “There’s no reason for someone to be here past 10, 11 o’clock. It’s a beautiful space on both sides if we keep it nice and we keep it safe.”
She added that she would support curfews or closing the bridge during late-night hours.
Mayor Moore said he will not tolerate behavior that puts others at risk and expressed frustration with how laws are enforced across the river.
He warned that anyone bringing chaos to the Jeffersonville side will face firm consequences.
“Our court system deals with troublemakers. You don’t get a slap on the wrist,” Moore said. “I respect the police officers that wear the uniform on Louisville’s side, but you can’t just keep telling someone, ‘Hey, don’t do this anymore’. And that’s where my frustration comes from.”
Jeffersonville Councilman Dustin White said he supports increased police presence if needed but does not currently see crime crossing over from Kentucky as a major concern.
“I’ve been on the council for 10 years, and I haven’t seen that,” White said.
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