During the week of June 10-14, Marine Law Enforcement personnel from around the state will be learning and perfecting their drift boating skills on the Rogue River. Students will learn to swim in whitewater, practice rescue techniques, navigate Class III whitewater, and operate in remote environments from drift boats, rafts, and catarafts. Running whitewater takes training and practice so law enforcement can respond to emergencies quickly and confidently. “There’s no training like it anywhere else in the country, says Eddie Persichetti, Law Enforcement Coordinator for the Marine Board. Experienced instructors from around the state help guide the way for the less experienced students.” Each day the students drift various river sections, beginning with Class I rapids. “Day one we build on rescue techniques and focus students’ attention on reading white water. It’s incredibly important to see the whole run vs. the next ten feet in front of the boat,” says Persichetti. “Day two, instructors build on the skills from the day before and then progress onto more difficult skills with more difficult rapids throughout the week. The key is to develop the skill and confidence in officers so they can safely patrol Oregon’s waterways and apply those skills to assist boaters in distress. The safety of everyone recreating on the water is our top priority,” Persichetti explains. The skills the officers gain will give them a strong foundation in their law enforcement roles when they return to their patrol area. “We also practice scenarios where students encounter boaters and guides who are not in compliance with existing laws,” Persichetti adds. “Oregon’s waterways seem to become more crowded every year and it’s imperative that law enforcement focuses on those boaters who are not in compliance.” Persichetti adds, “When the law enforcement students leave this training, they have a new respect and understanding for safety on the river, the people who run it and playing by the rules.” Recreational boaters can expect to see law enforcement students drifting on the Upper Rogue from Lost Creek Reservoir to Touvelle Park from June 10 through June 13 and the Middle Rogue from Ennis Riffle to Argo Canyon on June 14. For more information about boating laws and regulations, visit www.boatoregon.com.
