Deputies train for lake patrol
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

There will be additional law enforcement on Lake Freeman this summer thanks to a $40,000 grant from the Department of Natural Resources to the Carroll County Sheriff's Office. According to project manager Maj. Tobe Leazenby, sheriff Tony Burns applied for the funds after he took office last January. Burns became aware of the potential funding when he and Leazenby attended new sheriff school.

Twelve deputies trained on Lake Shafer last Thursday with DNR trainers to learn how to maneuver a boat safely and look for offenders on water.

A used 19-foot boat was purchased with grant money and is in the process of being equipped as a law enforcement vehicle. Leazenby said it will be docked at Pearson's Marina in summer and winter. Leazenby said the countyowned hovercraft will be used as a trade-in. Additional equipment and fuel, as well as overtime for deputies who provide the service, will be funded totally with grant money.

There are specific weekends and holidays, such as Memorial Day, July Fourth and Labor Day the county will patrol to satisfy funding conditions.

Four-year veteran DNR trainer Ryan Blackman said Thursday's training goal was to familiarize the deputies with the differences of how a boat handles compared to a car.

"DNR wants our help out there," Leazenby said. "The state is very supportive of our program."

Leazenby said boating under the influence is more prevalent than most people realize. The presumptive level of impairment in a boat is .08 just like it is in a car.

"This is just a way to provide additional law enforcement-but on the water," he said. "There has been an increase of recreational boating activities on the lake with an increase of personal water craft. There are safety issues associated with the increase in lake traffic."

Although there are many times only one officer is in a car patrolling county roads, there will be two officers in the patrol boat at all times. Leazenby said community members can now call the sheriff's office to report suspicious activity on Lake Freeman.

The marine patrol grant program is three years old, according to program coordinator DNR Lt. Col. Sam Purvis. Grant monies are generated from boat registrations. Although out-of-state boaters are not required to register their boats in Indiana when they use them in the state, they are required to pay excise tax. Purvis said that tax is an additional component of the funding stream for the grant.

"We know that when we have law enforcement presence on the water, accidents, injuries and fatalities are minimal," Purvis added.

Purvis advised the Indiana Boater Education Booklet is available online at www. in/gov/dnr. A safe boating course is available at the same address. It is recommended all boaters avail themselves of the information presented on the Web site. A boater could violate one or more of 92 offenses listed as violations.

"The bottom line for us is how many injuries are we preventing," Leazenby said. "How many lives are we saving?"