PEWAUKEE, WI – Last week, teenagers did more than just hit the beach; they also hit each other.
Following a beach brawl on Pewaukee Lake, village leaders are meeting to try to prevent similar fights from occurring in the future.
Last week, after school was out for the summer, a large crowd gathered at Lakefront Park, according to cellphone video.
“The two kids were just kinda wrestling,” said a witness, Casey O’Brien. “It was very loud.”
According to village trustee Bob Rohde, the warm weather and the end of the school year created a chaotic scene.
“Everyone was down here. “There were many schools down here,” Rohde said. “We want to make sure there’s a safe environment down here.”
A police officer from the Village of Pewaukee broke up one of the fights. Since then, the department has increased its patrols in the area.
The Village of Pewaukee Police Department reported that no arrests or citations had been issued this year.
One teen who got into a fight last week told FOX6 News off camera that he was banned from the beach for a day as punishment.
Business owners and parkgoers filed complaints with the village about the large crowds, physical games, and profane language.
“We usually try and keep it positive in our store,” said Tina Krueger, shift leader at The Chocolate Factory. “We’ll ask them to leave or quiet down before we take any other actions.”
People also complained about groups not using crosswalks, putting their own and others’ safety at risk.
Tina Sanfilippo, a mother of four, believes that most teenagers are good. However, she admits that their choice of language is not.
“This is a place where everyone should feel welcome to come,” she told me. “There’s no reason people shouldn’t be respectful when they’re here. Perhaps some signage is all that’s required.”
Rohde is helping the village prepare for its biggest night of the year.
Between 8 and 10,000 people are expected to gather around Pewaukee Lake for the Fourth of July fireworks. Rohde hopes that everyone behaves.
“The vast majority of the kids down here were respectful,” he told me. “There were probably a few who were not.”
The village will discuss these issues at its board meeting on Tuesday night, June 17.
