Faux Drama on the High Seas; Island Police Receive Boat Training
Training began at Oak Bluffs police department.
Training began at Oak Bluffs police department.
Class was led by Mark Brennan of Maritime Tactical Training.
Class was led by Mark Brennan of Maritime Tactical Training.
Water portion of training took place on Lagoon Pond.
Water portion of training took place on Lagoon Pond.
Training took place on police and fire boats.
Training took place on police and fire boats.
Officers learned how to take a belligerent boater into custody and how to handle a boat chase.
Officers learned how to take a belligerent boater into custody and how to handle a boat chase.
Training weapons were used.
Training weapons were used.
Kevin O'Neil, a state trooper with the marine unit, played the role of a suspect.
Kevin O'Neil, a state trooper with the marine unit, played the role of a suspect.
Boats were brought within close proximity of each other at 20 to 25 knots.
Boats were brought within close proximity of each other at 20 to 25 knots.
Island law enforcement gathered Thursday for a joint training exercise, including simulated situations on Lagoon Pond.
Oak Bluffs and Edgartown police officers, Edgartown fire personnel, Boston police, state police and the Massachusetts environmental police all participated in the training exercise. The lead instructor was Mark Brennan of Maritime Tactical Training in Hingham.
The day started out with training in the classroom, followed by sea instruction aboard state police and environmental police boats and the Edgartown law enforcement boat and the Oak Bluffs police/fire boat, which is called the Red White and Blue.
The training featured several mock scenarios, incuding taking a troublesome boater into custody and a high speed chase. During the chase, police brought their power boats within proximity of each other at 20 to 25 knots.
The experience tied together situations the officers are familiar with on land with what they might encounter on the water. Training weapons were used during the simulations.