Board Finds Funding for Marine Patrol
The $250,000 needed for the unit has been reinstated to the county's FY2013 budget.
By William Callahan
April 24, 2012
http://burke.patch.com/articles/board-finds-funding-for-marine-patrol
The Fairfax County Police Department’s Marine Patrol Unit will live to see another day.
Funding for the two officers who patrol Fairfax County’s marinas and nearly 100 miles of shoreline was originally cut from the county’s fiscal year 2013 budget, but the $250,000 needed for the unit was reinstated during a Tuesday mark-up session.
The officers’ primary patrol areas include the Occoquan/Belmont Bay, Pohick Bay, Little Hunting Creek, Dogue Creek and Belle Haven. They also patrol Lake Braddock and Lake Barcroft.
The unit conducts checkpoints for alcohol-impaired boaters during busy seasons with other local law enforcement, and assists in search and rescue missions. They also provide safety and equipment checks for local boaters.
Mount Vernon Supervisor Gerry Hyland has fought for continued funding of the unit in the past and put forth the consideration item for the board’s FY2013 budget mark-up.
Attachments: