ORANGE BEACH, Ala. (WKRG) — The Orange Beach Police Department is dedicated to water safety, especially during the tourist season. The department has needed an additional patrol boat for some time and recently received a Homeland Security grant that will cover 75 percent of the cost.
Shawn White with the Orange Beach Police Department said the new boat is definitely needed and the grant helps them a lot with the cost.
“The total grant is $430,000 and the city will have to pay, I think, $107,000 of that,” White said.
The department has two types of boats and this new one will be for one specific duty.
“We need a smaller boat to go around the islands and do things ashore,” White said.
The funds will also go towards the purchase of specialized equipment for the new police boat.
“We also have life-saving devices, we have AEDs on all our boats, we have medical equipment on our boats, we have launch rings to rescue swimmers in distress, and then ladders if we need to get people out of the water if necessary , White said.
White said the new boat should arrive and be in the water by this time next year.
Stay ahead of the biggest stories, breaking news and weather in Mobile, Pensacola and along the Gulf Coast and Alabama. Download the WKRG News 5 news app and don’t forget to turn on push notifications.
https://www.wkrg.com/baldwin-county/orange-beach-police-department-receives-grant-for-new-boat/
