Concerns about deaths and injuries on the water have prompted a new way of patrolling Lake Simcoe.
For the first time, marine officers from Barrie police and the OPP are working together on one boat.
“It's a partnership we think we can build on in this area,” says Sgt. Glen Furlong from Barrie police. “We have many different police organizations policing our water here in Simcoe and with that overlap we thought we could make this partnership work."
Officers will team up, alternating police service boats every other weekend. The idea is that this system will help with saving on fuel costs and police resources.
However, seeing a Barrie police badge on an OPP boat, or vice versa, won't be the only change.
"We normally only patrol the waters within Kempenfelt Bay within the City of Barrie limits, but now we're going to extend all the way to Lake Simcoe on the western shore all the way up to the narrows before you enter Lake Couchiching," says Const. Doug Bosch of Barrie police.
Safety's the main reason for this new partnership. The OPP says 276 people died in boating incidents between 2005 and 2014. Of the 276 people who died in boating accidents in the last 10 years, just 50 people were wearing life jackets."
Marine officers plan on stopping boats regularly to check for alcohol, safety equipment and lifejackets.
"I think the most frustrating thing is stopping a vessel and people taking time to locate their life jackets, they're not wearing it, they don't know where the life jacket is, they're digging in cubby holes for it, they're not accessible," says OPP Const. Graeme Knox.
The OPP says a capsized boat is the leading cause of boating accidents resulting in death. Weather is also a major contributor.
"A big factor is weather conditions. We've already done rescue this year, where a gentleman was thrown overboard and ended up floating in the water for three hours. He had hypothermia, and again, checking the weather before you go out, knowing where your safety equipment is, all simple steps."
