QA Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

 

OFFICE of the SHERIFF for QUEEN ANNE’S COUNTY

PRESS RELEASE

 

In late 2011, the Queen Anne’s Sheriff’s Office began its partnership with the Maritime Tactical Operations Group which is a subcommittee of the Baltimore Area Maritime Security Committee.  MTOG consists of Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement partners that work together to promote a unified effort for law enforcement tactical assets to provide for an adequate response to events that occur in the maritime environment.  It was decided by the Command Staff that the current vessel, a 1991 19′ Boston Whaler donated to the agency by the Natural Resources Police needed to be updated. Several avenues of funding were explored and it was determined that the agency could request to use the State Homeland Security Grant Funds that were available.  Sheriff Hofmann stated “ Cpl. Mark Carr put a lot effort into seeking and filing of the grant to acquire the Zodiac. It’s most gratifying to see middle management taking such an active role in improving the ability of the sheriff’s Office to better serve the community” 

On September 27, 2012 the Sheriff’s Office took delivery of a 2010 Zodiac LE2400 which had been used as a demo and has very few hours of use.  Being a demo, the boat was purchased at nearly 50% the cost of a 2012 model.  24′ feet long and powered by a single 200 hp motor, it has the capability of speeds in excess of 45 mph and a range to any tidal waterway in the county.  It is equipped with normal safety equipment as well as radar and side scanning sonar. “Our partnership with Zodiac in Stevensville allowed us to acquire such a state of the art boat at no cost to the citizens of Queen Anne’s County” said Sheriff Hofmann.

 The boat will normally be kept in the Kent Narrows area to provide a quick response time to the county’s 30 square miles of water which encompasses 414 miles of shoreline.  The primary purposes of the watercraft will be criminal and safety enforcement, special events such as fireworks, boat races and other water related events, to supplement DNR, Coast Guard and local Fire Departments during Search & Rescues and investigation of environmental crimes..  The boat will also be utilized for Homeland Security Missions and serve as a delivery vehicle for Maritime Tactical Operations.  

The Boston Whaler was retired from service and recently sold by Public Works on eBay.