Marine Patrol
We have two full-time deputies a part-time marine safety officer and several volunteers assigned to patrol the waters of the Columbia River, including the Columbia County portion of Multnomah Channel. These positions are funded primarily by the Oregon State Marine Board and require most of their time working the state waterways in our county.
Marine deputies are assisted by reserve deputies and VIPS volunteers on a case-by-case basis to promote water safety and good boating.
The Marine Patrol funds we receive help us maintain a presence on the largest stretch of the biggest waterway in our state, traversed by multitudes of boaters and commercial shipping interests daily. Law enforcement on the water is a way to keep this waterway safe for all who use the water, and to ensure that commerce vital to our region is maintained.
These funds also allow us to have additional manpower that we can call in on overtime to address any number of emergencies on land or sea. Though these are dedicated-funding positions, it still gives us deputies we would not have when the chips are down to go anywhere in this county on an emergency basis.