By Jim Newell

Review Editor

The Lake Orion Police Department has a new police boat and with the addition of the resource to its arsenal, will be able to provide quick response to island residents and lake users on Lake Orion in the event of a situation.

The Lake Orion marine patrol was active as of Sept. 14, Lake Orion Police Chief Jerry Narsh said.

“We have to be able to provide that police response. We have a duty to be able to respond to the them effectively, as we do our land-based community,” Narsh said.

Marine Operations Coordinator Christopher Mulder will head the marine patrol. He is a certified DNR marine safety instructor and a part time officer with the LOPD.

The village’s previous marine division ended in the mid-1980s due to budget cuts.

Since that time, Lake Orion police have had to borrow or commandeer boats or hitch rides if they needed a water response, Narsh said.

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office does have a marine patrol on Lake Orion, and Narsh has worked with the OCSO to coordinate responses to dispatch calls.

“I worked with Lt. Dan Toth, the OCSO Orion Substation commander and the Sheriff’s Office, Dispatch Command to ensure the dispatching of the boat and the determination on the need to respond meets all agencies’ policies and procedures, as the lake is in both the village and the township,” Narsh said.

“The LOPD and OCSO are working together to ensure there is no delay in emergency response. The officers or deputies, depending on the location of the incident, will determine the best response to non-emergency calls, and will respond to assist in determining what is needed at emergency calls as well.”

The LOPD police boat will be launched in early spring each year and remain on the water until ice conditions require removal.

“We will advise dispatch when it is launched and removed from service each year. When the LOPD patrol boat is not on routine or event patrol, it is available for emergency activation for incidents that are determined to require an on-water response on the entire lake,” Narsh said. “Road Patrol Units will respond and assist in determining the source, nature and needed response to the incident, such as the marine unit, medical, dive team or aviation.”

The Lake Orion Village Council approved the purchase of the police boat for $23,000, plus $1,000 for graphics and some equipment.

The boat should last the police department for 15 years, Narsh said, adding that there is no cost to the LOPD to store the boat on the water – the only expenses are fuel and maintenance costs.

“All LOPD officers have been trained in Michigan boating laws and responsibilities as well as police marine procedures,” Narsh said. “Basically, in the event there is any emergency reported such as a serious injury boat crash, a suspected or possible drowning or crimes against a person, the LOPD boat will be dispatched to a call anywhere on the lake or islands.

Lake users or homeowners on islands and peninsulas should call 911 or the non-emergency number, just like before. There’s no need for them to call a special number. The police will determine whether they need a land or water response, Narsh said.

“Other calls, such as non-emergency or nuisance calls, the road patrol officers or deputies will investigate and determine the need for the type of response. If the boat is required, it will be dispatched,” Narsh said.

Officer Chad Reetz, a reserve commander with the LOPD, had donated his boat for the last 15 years at his own expense, Narsh said.