Local business puts deputies on watercraft

Marisa O’Neil

A $1,700 donation from West Marine in Newport Beach will help outfit

the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol with its own

version of motorcycle officers. The donation will allow deputies to

patrol Newport and Dana Point harbors on personal watercraft.

The Harbor Patrol has had two personal watercraft at its disposal

for the last five years through a loan program, Deputy Brad Lofland

said. But without a budget for extra equipment, their use was limited

to duties such as helping the department’s dive team.

“Our plan is to implement a personal watercraft program where a

regular deputy and a reserve [deputy] go out for public information,

make contacts with the boating community, do courtesy safety

inspections,” Lofland said. “And they’ll be the eyes and ears where

patrol boats are easily spotted.”

Although the craft are clearly marked as Sheriff’s vehicles,

they’re less obtrusive and more maneuverable than the Harbor Patrol

boats, he said.

The donation came after reserve deputy Jay Carson, a manager at

West Marine, saw state budget cuts affect the department’s ability to

fund some special programs. He talked to Lofland about how the

department would like to use the to personal watercraft they had.

“They’ve got these great units, but they didn’t have the budget or

equipment to use them,” Carson said.

Deputies needed wetsuits, flotation devices, goggles and a special

bag to keep their radios and weapons dry, Lofland said. He put

together a wish list for Carson, and West Marine donated all the

equipment they asked for.

“Now they can actually use them to patrol the area they need to

patrol,” Carson said.