2007 ANNUAL REPORT Part 1.cdr - Kootenai County Sheriff Office

Recreation Safety Section
The Kootenai County Sheriff's Department Recreation Safety Section is responsible for providing marine law
enforcement and rescue patrols to 18 lakes and 56 miles of navigable river within our county. The program
operates year round, but is at maximum deployment May 01 through September 15 of each year. At maximum
deployment, the section employs one full time Sergeant, one full time Deputy and twelve seasonal Deputies.
Throughout the year, the marine program provides certified boating education courses to the public and
conducts patrols on the various lakes and rivers in the county. Kootenai County is home to the largest number
of registered boaters in the State with over 20,000 registering in 2007.
The Marine program is a leader in the State when it comes to the service provided to the boater. We host an 80
hour POST certified marine academy, attend the ten day boat show held at the Spokane County Fairgrounds.
Additionally, the marine deputies conduct several hundred vessel safety inspections and arrest dozens of
intoxicated boaters on the water each year. The Marine program teaches the State Certified Boating
Education course to local students. In 2007, sixty-five students were certified through this course, with 3 of
those completing the “BEST” Boating Safety Instructor course.
Through out the year, the section processes
nearly 100 Marine Event Permits, one of which
is the USA National Ironman Triathlon. This
annual event brings in thousands of spectators
and over two thousand participants.
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The Kootenai County Sheriff's Department Recreation
Safety Section is also charged with maintaining an active
Dive Rescue Team. The team consists of twelve members.
The divers train year round in various environments. The
divers are trained in boat operations, swift water rescue, ice
rescue and can dive to 110 feet. On average, the dive team
responds to two dozen calls per year.
The Kootenai County Sheriff's Department Recreation
Safety Section is also charged with maintaining an active
back-country snowmobile patrol. During the winter months,
the Section employs two full time deputies and two seasonal
deputies that patrol over 350 miles of groomed snowmobile
trail. The purpose of these patrols is to provide a law
enforcement presence in the back-country and ensures
registration compliance on approximately 4000 registered
snowmobiles that use our trails. During a typical year, the
section investigates 2-5 serious injury and multiple minor
property damage accidents.
The Kootenai County Sheriff's Department maintains an active all volunteer Search
and Rescue Council that provides volunteer support on all Search & Rescue missions.
The SAR Council is comprised of three primary and independent units and consists of
nearly 90 members. The three units are Kootenai County Search and Rescue,
Mounted Posse and Kootenai County Emergency Auxiliary. See additional
photographs on page 34.
The SAR Council responds to all search and rescue incidents in the back-country of
Kootenai County and also works security details during special events such as the
Annual Kootenai County Fair and the Fourth of July.
Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department Annual Report