The Pell City Police Department will patrol the shores of Logan Martin Lake in the department’s new boat, as well the roads over the holiday weekend. Brian Schoenhals
“This boat is something Pell City needs,” Police Chief Greg Turley said.
Turley said the Police Department recently received an external agency surplus transfer from the Alabama Department of Conservation Marine Resources Division. The boat is a C Hawk 25-foot craft with 300 horsepower via two V6 engines.
“We want to thank Barnett Lawley (Commissioner for the Alabama Department of Conservation) and the Pell City mayor and council who recognized the need to serve those who live on the lake,” he said.
Turley said residents who do not live on the lake or have friends who live on the lake may not realize the need for a police department boat.
“This boat is fully equipped and ready to do the job,” he said.
Turley said the police department obtained the boat for $25.
“The boat is worth more than $50,000,” he said. “It has radar, GPS, police lights, sirens, marine radio, and more.”
Turley said he plans to park his police department truck, unless the truck is needed to directly support other officers, and use that gas money to purchase gas for the boat.
“Our two school resource officers have been through training to operate the boat,” he said.
Turley said the school resource officers, Kristi Denson and Jacob Riley, will patrol in the boat, as well as fulfill their normal duties.
“When the school year ends, they will hit the water,” he said. “The protection for the city remains unchanged.”
Denson said she and Riley trained with the Alabama Marine Police and also in Tuscaloosa.
“I believe this is a need we have now, and the boat will help fill that need,” she said.
Turley said the officers do not plan to check fishing licenses and similar items when they patrol.
“Our top three goals with the boat patrol are to stop theft dead in its tracks in Pell City, stop BUI (boating under the influence), and stop littering on the lake,” he said.
Turley said he believes the boat patrol will decrease thefts in Pell City. Many thieves steal from a house, put the stolen items in their boat, and simply drive off.
“Our mission this weekend is to get to know the people who live out on the lake, and try to figure out what belongs and what doesn’t belong,” he said. “We want to build relationships with the lake residents, so if they see something suspicious they can call us and we can put the boat out on the water.”
Turley said there is a zero tolerance policy on BUI, littering, and theft.
“We will be on the lookout for reckless or impaired drivers,” he said.
Turley said the new boat is not here to replace what the marine police are doing.
“It is here to complement what they are doing,” he said. “We can work together and make the lake a safer and cleaner place.”
Code of AL 11-40-10
(a) The police jurisdiction in cities having 6,000 or more inhabitants shall cover all adjoining territory within three miles of the corporate limits, and in cities having less than 6,000 inhabitants and in towns, such police jurisdiction shall extend also to the adjoining territory within a mile and a half of the corporate limits of such city or town.
I am going to ask Chief Turley to post the marine channel they monitor for the saftey of all of using enjoying the lake. I cannot say how many times I have witnessed thoughtless people littering the lake and never had a channel to call and report the offender.
Thank you Barnette, and others.