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The Racine County Sheriff's Department
Water Patrol is a Department of Natural Resources subsidized program in which
Racine County, through the Sheriff's Department, provides both boating law
enforcement and search and rescue efforts within Racine County. The Water
Patrol Office is located in the Skipper Bud's Marina Administration Building.
One sergeant and two deputies staff this unit from May through September.
During the summer months, up to 10 college students are hired to work part time
to assist the Water Patrol Officers with boat handling and maintenance.
The Water Patrol operates two boats
obtained from the U.S. Coast Guard. One is a 1975 41-foot aluminum hull twin
diesel engine utility boat capable of handling the rough waters of Lake
Michigan. The other boat is a 22 foot Monarch with an inboard motor / outboard
drive. The Coast Guard used this boat on the Mississippi River to tend marker
buoys. It currently is being used for the harbor and on the Root River for
safety patrol. The Racine County Sheriff's Department also has a 17 foot
Proline fiberglass deep V boat with an outboard motor that was donated for use
with the Water Patrol and the S.C.U.B.A. team for use on Lake Michigan and for
use on the inland lakes in Racine County.
The boats are launched in the first part
of April, weather permitting. The Water Patrol then operates one shift in May
and September with extended hours of operation during the prime boating season
of Memorial Day through Labor Day.
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