Police Commissioner Thomas R. Sofield, Sr., of the Long Beach Police Department proudly announced today that the Long Beach Police Department has created a Marine Patrol Unit for policing the ten plus miles of shoreline that embraces the City of Long Beach. With the assistance of Inspector Al McGovern of the Nassau County Police Department’s Marine Bureau, Director of Marine Services, Brian A. Kempf of New York State Office of Parks And Recreation and Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, The Long Beach Police Department was able to obtain a Marine Patrol vessel with no cost to the City of Long Beach. The unit will be under the guidance of Lt. Bruce Meyer. The Marine Patrol officers are Police Officer Michael Corbett and Police Officer Brian Martin.”
Police Commissioner Sofield stated, “I am extremely pleased with the creation of the Marine Patrol Unit. The Long Beach Police department is committed to providing the highest quality of law enforcement to all citizens of Long Beach. The creation of this unit is an instrument in accomplishing that goal.
The Department will now have the means and capability to tackle quality of life and safety issues that occur in Reynolds Channel and off the ocean of Long Beach that were difficult to address in the past. The Marine Patrol Unit will have multiple responsibilities. First and foremost public safety is the number one reason for the creation of the Marine Patrol Unit. The unit will be present on the waterways to aid boaters, kayakers, swimmers and other recreational users of the Long Beach waterways that may be injured or in distress. Additionally the unit will have capability to address Homeland Security issues. Also, the unit will be enforcing Boating While Intoxicated and speeding laws that may occur on the waterways. The Marine Patrol officers will be monitoring users of Wave Runners and Jet Skis to ensure they are being operated safely and in compliance with the boating and navigation laws. Also, quality of life issues such as noise complaints that occur in Reynolds Channel can now be addressed.”