Marine law enforcement training academy participants test their skills on waters of Lake Billy Chinook

(Update: Adding video, comments from participant, OSMB training coordinator)

CULVER, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Marine law enforcement members from around the state have been busy getting some hands-on training and testing their skills on the waters of Lake Billy Chinook Wednesday.

"The programs has been awesome," Umatilla County sheriff's Senior Patrol Deputy Travis McMasters said Wednesday. "I thoroughly enjoyed it."

The intensive course is designed for new or seasonal marine law enforcement officers to learn an array of fundamental skills, such as boating laws, recreational boating safety education, enforcement techniques, boat handling and water safety. 

A total of 86 people were on hand -- 40 of those being students participating in 10 active training scenarios. The students were in the classroom for two days to learn the laws before they applied their knowledge out on the lake.

“Safety is our top priority, for the students and ultimately the boaters they interact with,” said Eddie Persichetti, the Oregon State Marine Board's law enforcement training coordinator. “The curriculum not only focuses on marine laws but also focuses on boater contacts to educate, promote safety and encourage positive behaviors, which ultimately help reduce risks out on the water and creates a positive experience for those who recreate on Oregon’s waterways.” 

"Some of these students have never trailered a boat before. Some of them have never been on the boat before. some of them have never put on a life jacket," Persichetti said. "So we started the basics and work our way up."

McMasters told us about his experience learning the training. 

"I am a boat owner, but I've never driven these kinds of boats like the jet boats," he said. "The capabilities that these boats have and what they teach us here as far as maneuvering them, their maneuverability -- it's been awesome."

For the fifth straight year, Jefferson County is hosting this one-of-a-kind hands-on training, facilitated by Marine Board staff, where many instructors are experienced, seasoned officers. This year, the Marine Board combined their annual pre-season conference to run parallel with the academy, so organization leaders could observe their officers train on the water. 

On-water training takes place at Lake Billy Chinook, where students are developing their basic boat-handling skills and participate in active scenarios that emphasize safety, courtesy, enforcement tactics, and incident prevention. Pool sessions teaching advanced swimming skills, water rescue, and defensive tactics are being conducted at the Madras Aquatic Center.  

The 2023 Marine Academy has consisted of over 40 participants representing 14 different county sheriff’s offices and the Oregon State Police.     

Learn more about the Marine Board’s unique partnership with marine law enforcement here.