New Suffolk police boat to help Coast Guard
Gosh, so many reactions to this news piece. I love this headline, “… to help Coast Guard.” Gee, when did the City of Suffolk, VA. Police last help the Coast Guard execute a MARB? No, I don’t mean respond to a MARB, I mean make the broadcast. That would actually be helping the CG, wouldn’t it? As in, help the CG implement current CG policy. Shoot, that doesn’t go down on the rolls as a rescue. No rescues this year, no Fed dollars next year. No Fed dollars means no more cool blue boats.
(Ed note: the City of Suffolk is at the head of the Nansemond River, about 20 miles from Hampton Roads, VA. The article refers to that city, not to be confused with Suffolk County, NY, which is the eastern half of Long Island, where I grew up, and is the home of SeaTow International HQ. I refer to both Suffolks in this post. Try and keep up, ok?)
Since when does the CG need help? What kind of help? Help policing the waterways, like Homeland Security stuff? The Police in Suffolk County, NY, have a whole fleet of these SAFE boats. Are there so many terrorists threatening to blow up the Smith’s Point Bridge? Does the CG need help stopping all the illegal Cubans and Haitians sneaking over the dunes at Dune Road? We’re talking Suffolk County now; you know, The Hamptons, Fire Island, Shelter Island? Not giant security threats like NYC or Washington, DC.
Ok, maybe the CG needs help responding to boaters in distress? Out of gas? Dead Battery? Too cheap to pay for a tow back home? Those are the kinds of distress calls that the Suffolk County PD respond to with their SAFE boats, along with legitimate emergencies. Will the City of Suffolk be any different? How do we stop our these government agencies from competing with our business?
Lets start with the funding for this boat, as mentioned in the article:
The boat was paid for a grant from the U.S. Coast Guard with the understanding that it would be used regionally, said spokeswoman Debbie George.
OH WELL, as long as it is used regionally….thank god that the City of Suffolk agreed not to use the boat in another region. Without that understanding, what is to stop the City Police from acting like Cops on Spring Break and helping boaters in New Jersey or something….
With the hype from this year’s CPORT meeting about the full, solid Quality Partnership our industry signed with the USCG, you would think we could get them to act like our partner and attach some strings to all the dough they are handing out. The strings I am thinking of are pretty simple. I think the USCG should expect, in writing, that the local agencies will adhere to Coast Guard policy about non-emergency cases with these boats that are purchased with Federal money and have a potential to adversely effect out industry. I’m not suggesting that the locals (like harbormasters) shouldn’t have these nice new boats, only that the USCG should make it clear that if local agencies are going to get USCG grant money for a rescue boat, it comes with a stipulation about non-emergency use, and the definition of non-emergency should be as outlined in the MSAP, not some local boat driver’s idea.
If you are a member of CPORT, why not call one of the board of directors and discuss this issue. If you are seeing boats like this pop up in your AOR, mention your concern to CPORT.
Most of you are aware of the problems with public agencies competing in Southern California. These SAFE boats have t he potential to spread that issue all over the country.
That’s my .02.
{ 2 comments }
Hey Doug
I have one of those in my house, Board of director. that is. I will forward this to him as we speak.
I agree completely. Our local Fire Dept has a 250,000.00 Safe boat and have towed with it. The Contra Costa Sheriff has a 500,000.00 Moose boat and have towed and attempted Salvage with it. They pluged the jets with weed and then had a 300,000.00 USCG 25′ come to tow them out to where they could back flush. Why do I not believe that all that Homeland Security Money is helping me!!
Dave
comment sent via email to RRR:
“Suffolk County New York is and has gotten lots of boats for competition with Boat US and Sea Tow. We have been dealing with this for a while and are told they need the boats due to the threat, the plane crashes and saving lives. Do they compete, yes! Les Trafford saved one of them from the surf not too long ago and that never made the paper.
On the East End we work directly with the Marine Task Force (North and South shore) (THE HAMPTONS) and have a great working relationship. They just received 2 boats for the Town of Southold and Shelter Island, and do not compete. There is a rule that Homeland Security cannot compete with Private Enterprise. Letters should go to the CG and DHS, Congress and Local Politicians who are running for office. Start now and make it a campaign issue. ”
posted by Joe
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