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 , but .

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.