Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office unveils 3 new patrol boats
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office hopes to bolster safety on area waterways with the addition of three new “state-of-the-art” vessels.
Sheriff Chad Chronister held a press conference Tuesday to unveil three new boats that are designed to respond to emergencies on the water.
“The boats are designed to be more agile in the water. They are designed for life-saving capability,” Chronister said.
The 32 and 38-foot vessels are each equipped with a flotation collar, as well as GPS systems and infrared cameras that will increase visibility during night patrols.
“When seconds count in that emergency, whether we’re capturing a bad guy, doing a safety check or saving people. When those moments count during that emergency, we don’t have to stop and put out bumpers to make sure we’re not damaging vessels,” Chronister said. “With that flotation collar, we can go right up against that vessel and either that arrest is affected, or we’re able to start that rescue within seconds.”
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