The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office recently added a shiny new vehicle to its marine division.
The sheriff’s office, with the help of a grant, purchased a 2014 Rouge Jet, built in Grants Pass, for patrolling the Columbia River and other waterways in the county. The process began a year ago when the office sought help from the Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB) in updating its aging three-boat fleet, which consisted of one boat that was 27 years old.
The OSMB provided a $55,000 grant to the sheriff’s office and, by selling its oldest boat, the department was able to purchase the new boat without using any additional county funds.
The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit patrols several miles of traffic on the Columbia River and its shore lines, both above and below McNary Dam, as well as a separate body of water, the busy McKay Reservoir and Dam, which is located about six miles south of Pendleton. Statistically, the UCSO Marine Patrol Unit consistently ranks in the top five statewide in prevention, education, and enforcement activities, according to the sheriff’s office.
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