BEAUFORT, S.C. — On Tuesday morning, the City of Beaufort announced they are implementing a series of new measures to tackle the recent rise in crime at the Garden Oaks Apartments.

This response follows concerns from community members about the city’s efforts to curb violence. Over the past eight months, the complex has been the site of three shootings and one homicide.

The city announced several steps they’ve taken to minimize the crime. They said those went into effect on May 28.

Beaufort City Manager, Scott Marshall, spoke on the matter.

Marshall stated, “We want residents to understand that we are fully aware of the situation and equally unhappy with it. The increase in violent crime in our area deeply concerns us. Therefore, we’re aiming to be more proactive with our actions at the Garden Oaks Apartments.”

Beaufort Police Chief, Stephenie Price said one of the actions they’re taking is working with management and the county to help evict troublesome residents.

“If residents are not monitoring and doing what they’re supposed to do via their lease, we work with the property manager to ensure that it is a safe environment and to help them start the eviction process,” said Price. “Unsurprisingly, breaking the law will get you evicted. So, we’re working with them, and we’re working with the county to go ahead and go through that civil process for eviction.”

When asked where those residents would go once evicted, Marshall responded with uncertainty.

“I don’t know the answer to that, but if they’re going to cause problems like that, I know we do not want them in the City of Beaufort.”

Since the complex opened, Price said they’ve done over 1,000 patrols of the area.  Some folks complained that that still wasn’t enough, and the crime was still happening.

“Since May 28, we’ve actually done almost 80 extra patrols in the area, which is a lot of patrols in a short amount of time.”

Price said they increased their presence again after the recent shooting that left two individuals injured. They also set up a substation in one of the apartments on site.

“That apartment is manned weekdays from 9 a.m. till 2 a.m., and on the weekends from 2 p.m. till 2 a.m.,” said Price. “That gives you on site police protection and quicker response to any incidents that do happen.”

Price said they also have cameras monitoring the property and have installed a sign to notify folks that they are patrolling the area.

“We do have a huge message board out front that says, ‘visitors and residents only, trespass notice is in effect’ and it says right up front ‘Beaufort Police Department’ to let everyone know we are there, we are in residence, and we are willing to make our presence known,” Price said.

Price mentioned that the crime happening in the complex was not coming from residents inside the complex, and that’s why the signage posted would help control the folks coming in and out.

“It’s not the residents and it’s not the management there,” Price said. “It’s people coming into that neighborhood to do harm, and that’s what we want to prevent.  We want to make this community, our Beaufort City, safe for families and safe for our future and safe for children. It’s that easy. So, what we’re doing is working with them to ensure if you’re a guest that isn’t registered, you need to register, and if you are a trespass notice person, then that’s not okay as well, and we take care of that.”

With two other affordable housing complexes going up in the same vicinity as the Garden Oaks apartments, Price said they are looking ahead at safety guidelines for those as well.

“We’ve already planned that and we’re working on the analytics for that and we’re working on the staffing for that and how that’s going to factor into all of this, because It seems like there is a complex of complexes right there in that area, and we want to ensure a safe community for all.”

A resident from the Salem Bay subdivision that chose to stay anonymous, told their response to the city:

“Yes, this is a step in the right direction, but it shouldn’t have taken multiple shootings and months of public pressure for this level of action to occur. I live across the street from Garden Oaks, and what’s happening there has had a very real impact on my family’s daily sense of safety and peace of mind.

While I appreciate the City’s decision to finally establish a substation at Garden Oaks, it raises a larger issue: Why wasn’t this done sooner? Why have residents’ repeated concerns—brought up in town halls, on record at city council meetings, and through community outreach—been met for so long with vague responses and political language?

What I want to see now is follow-through. A lasting presence, not a temporary PR move.

We need sustainable public safety measures, thoughtful urban planning, and a City Council that takes a more proactive and balanced approach when approving housing developments—especially when those decisions have a direct impact on surrounding communities like mine.

This is not about opposing affordable housing. It’s about ensuring those developments are properly planned, supported, and integrated with the surrounding area in a way that keeps everyone safe. I hope this recent announcement is the beginning of real change—not just the end of the news cycle.”

The city released that the apartment complex would have a meeting with residents to discuss and promote safety going forward.

City council also has a meeting scheduled for June 10 to discuss a possible ordinance that would allow for more effective enforcement to remove public nuisances.