Marine Section Responds To Man Overboard: Greenwich Police

GREENWICH, CT—Over the weekend, units from the Greenwich Police Marine Section responded to a call for a person overboard in the Long Island Sound just off Greenwich around midnight on Sunday, according to the department's Facebook account.

When Officers arrived at the vessel, the subject was back on the boat. Officers treated the subject for mild hypothermia and shock. At the Police Dock, patient care was transferred to Greenwich Emergency Medical Services (GEMS).

The GPD is reminding boaters that their vessels need to be registered, have the property sight and sound signals, and the operator needs to possess and carry a boating certificate. Personal Flotation Devices (PFD) must be on hand for everyone on a vessel, the Department said.

The GPD Marine Section is comprised of eight officers, with three boats and other smaller support craft. Public Information Officer Lt. John Slusarz said the section has a broad range of responsibility.

The daily range of duties run from just general patrolling of all the harbors and inlets, to rescuing people that may have fallen overboard or crashed their boat, to assisting other departments nearby in their water activities as well.

"We have an enormous amount of shoreline with all the nooks and crannies. We have a couple of islands as well, and there are a lot of water activities that occur on the Sound; things from fishing and swimming to more commercial operations and things that occur out there," Slusarz said. "What our Marine Section is set up to do is to make sure that the people who are out there on the water are properly licensed and trained to do what they're doing, and that they are obeying all the rules and responsibilities and laws."

Safety on the water is a top concern for the section and department. If residents have any questions regarding boating and what is needed for a safe boat, contact the Marine Section at 203-622-8044.