Flagler County Sheriff's Office expands water patrol

Palm Coast Observer
News

Two boats, instead of one, will seek to keep boaters in line in Flagler County.

No matter how much Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies Jon Reckenwald and Arthur Erlandson protest, they ultimately have to admit it: Cruising the Intracoastal Waterway aboard the 21-foot Edgewater isn’t a bad way to spend a Memorial Day afternoon.

And after the most recent purchase of a 21-foot Carolina skiff, a flat-bottom boat to complement the Edgewater, the Sheriff’s Office now owns two boats for patrolling the Intracoastal and canals.

Both boats will get a workout under Reckenwald and Erlandson’s care.

“It’s not a bad way to spend the day,” Reckenwald says.

Erlandson pushes the speed to about 30 mph, and the wind is so strong it takes some thinking just to breathe normally. A white wake fans out behind the boat, and a jet ski hops the crest. Sometimes while on patrol, Reckenwald and Erlandson are accompanied by dolphins leaping alongside them.

“There are certain amenities,” Reckenwald says, comparing water duty to road patrol. “But you have to give up certain things. It’s not so easy to take a pit stop.”

As part of the dive team, Reckenwald and Erlandson have been called upon to help retrieve evidence such as guns and knives that were tossed into the water. They’ve searched for bodies in surrounding counties, as well.

But much of their time is spent on what they call “presence patrol.” The presence of a boat marked with a gold star becomes a deterrent for a lot of inappropriate activity. But not all.

“Did you see that?” Erlandson shouts above the hum of the motor. “That kid was hanging over the edge of the boat.” They cruise over and signal to a small family in a boat. A young boy was leaning over the bow, washing his hands while the boat was in motion. That’s a no-no. License and registration, please.

Just as that boat is puttering away, the duo spots a woman with her leg dangling over the edge of another boat, and that pilot is signaled to stop, as well. In both cases, the offenders were unaware of the rules to not hang over the edge.

“We haven’t had too many casualties on the water, but the last two stops could have turned into casualties,” Reckenwald says. “If they took off, (the young boy) would be under them before they even knew it.”

Erlandson says boating under the influence of alcohol is also a major issue on the water. The main principle for people to remember is safety first, he said.