KENNEWICK, Wash. – Benton County deputies are gearing up for a busy summer on the Columbia River with their 27-foot SAFE boat.
The twin 300-horsepower patrol vessel will be on the water both day and night to ensure boater safety. The patrol boat is equipped with 360-degree lighting, PA systems, thermal imaging and is even ballistic resistant.
Deputy Brad Klippert with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, is just one of two deputies assigned to the boat full-time. However, Klippert says other people are trained to drive it in the case of emergencies.
BCSO operates the vehicle out of the Port of Kennewick and is able to patrol both the Columbia River and Yakima River. The boat can accommodate up to 22 people, making it a vital resource for the deputies who are keeping an eye on both boaters and swimmers.
While Deputy Klippert explains that their job does include ticketing on their patrols, the main reason is to make sure everyone out on the water is safe.
“Our number one thing is boater safety. So we talk to people and say, hey, what you’re doing right now is not safe. How about if we try to do something else to make sure that you and everyone else on the water is safe?,” said Klippert.
According to Deputy Klippert, common problems on the river include hypothermia, boats running into rocks or the shore and trespassing on islands. However, reckless driving, especially by inexperienced jet ski operators, poses the biggest danger.
“People who have never operated a jet ski before, come out and rent a jet ski, ” said Deputy Klippert. “Now they’ve got a vessel that’s very fast, very maneuverable, and they will drive recklessly around swimmers, other vessels, and it becomes very, very dangerous.”
Deputy Klippert says the consequences of reckless boating range from tickets all the way up to being arrested, especially if it endangers other people on the river. He reminds boaters not to consume alcohol while at the helm and to call 911 if they need assistance.
