Washington County Deputies Ready to Patrol Waterways, Parks Trails for Safety

With the start of summer, and a few notable boating accidents already being reported, Washington County deputies remain ready to patrol county waterways and parks to protect the safety of residents and visitors having summer fun.

Waterway safety becomes especially important in the summer, and deputies patrol the waterways in an effort to guard that safety.

In Washington County, that means patrolling major rivers and lakes, said Deputy Sheriff Vuepao Thao, who works in the area of water patrol. He is part of the water-safety staff, along with two other fully-licensed deputies, 19 part-time licensed deputies and more than 40 volunteer reserve officers who combine their services during the summer.

The Sheriff's Office patrols the Mississippi River from the Wakota Bridge to Hastings, and the St. Croix River from the county line (Chisago/Washington) to Prescott, Wis. In addition, deputies watch over boaters in the county's lakes.

The goal above all is safety, Thao said, and in general, the boating public is on the same page as the deputies.

Some boaters like to drive too fast, and some are not aware of all the rules that govern safe boating, but they are the exceptions, Thao said. Most boaters are well aware of the rules and ready to follow them. The deputies are out on patrol for those who need additional help in following safety rules, he said.

To assure prompt response to any boating emergency, the Sheriff's Office docks boats along the two major rivers, as well as in the major lakes in the county, Forest Lake, White Bear Lake and Big Marine Lake. The Sheriff's Office also has a boat that can be trailered to any other water body that may be the scene of a water emergency.

Park Patrol

Washington County deputies use ATVs to patrol park paths in the summer, trading in the snowmobiles that they use in the winter, Thao said. And, new this year, deputies will be mounting bicycles to patrol park paths. Those deputies should be more visible and accessible to parks visitors, Thao said, than when they are patrolling from squad cars.

Most people on the water are well-versed in what they need to do to remain safe, Thao said. He added that those who may need more coaching are not hesitant to call the Sheriff's Office or check websites on various waterways if they need a clarification of rules, and many do. Websites that provide good information on water safety are those managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and by the U.S. Coast Guard.