New armed boat will patrol port

[seriousstan]

Racheting up its firepower, the sheriff's office is getting a 30-foot boat with mounted machine guns for homeland-security patrols at the Port of Palm Beach and offshore.

Mounted machine guns are a first for the sheriff's office, although sub-machine guns are assigned to some deputies in specialized units.

The $163,735 cost of the boat and equipment is being paid for by a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which is helping to finance security increases at several Florida ports.

"It's basically a need to be prepared," said Maj. Dan Smith, commander of special operations for Sheriff Ed Bieluch. "Who knows what we can get hit with."

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2004/12/17/s6b_boat_1217.html

[Truman01]

1. Hello? we need armed HUMVEESSSS!!!! Not BOATS!

BOATS DONT WORK IN SAND!!!!!!!!!!!

[oneighty]

3. Those fishing/boating without a license

beware!

180

[MindLikeAParachute]

2. Glad to hear Palm Beach is protected.

Wouldn't want any harm to come to Rush

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

4. And this is coupled with a reduction in the number of USCG

personnel in the area, I bet.

[oneighty]

6. Sounds like a Swift boat

Boy! Expensive. Somebody is making bucks.

Hey WJMS

180

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

7. 8meter Zodiac ridig hull most likely

with twin OB's and a mount forward. most likely a M-60, possibly a SAW

Excessive? Most of the time, yes. But out on the water, you are your own back up, so visible means of fire support can aid in winning the hearts and minds of neer-do-wells.

How ya doin, 180?

[oneighty]

9. EODs

Harbor defense EOD got cool boats AND porpoise to play with! Porpoise trained to attach flotation device to enemy swimmer rendering him useless.

180

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

12. Yeah, I read about that... cool stuff

[htuttle]

5. Where do you suppose they are going to practice shooting that?

Would hate to see Barney Fife lose control of the thing and accidentally strafe people tanning on the beach...

[One_Life_To_Give]

8. State Jurisdiction ends at 3 Mile limit

Why is the Sherrifs department getting this? They have no jurisdiction beyond the three mile limit? USCG can board in International Waters but not the States.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

10. They can be deputized in the Customs Service, or they

can carry a Customs officer onboard... the Feds think that just paying for boats is enough, they tried this before and it did not work, and it won't this time.

Sheriff's Departments and Police Departments for the most part will not maintain those boats to a level they need.

Sure, it will work in the short run.

[One_Life_To_Give]

11. Hope they are better than in N.E.

We have Law Enforcement boats in the N.E. area without any lines on board worth mentioning. And if the equippment shortage isn't enough, the crews have never drilled outside the sight of land, or bad weather, low visibility.

[Vidar]

13. Next step is to find a boat load of "Cuban" to attack it, so Chimp

can invade Cuba.

[Im_Your_Huckleberry]

14. this will be used to check the contents of containers?

right?