Sarasota Police Department partnering with U.S. Coast Guard Flotilla 84
The Sarasota Police Department will partner with United States Coast Guard Flotilla 84 of Sarasota for an Interagency Boating Safety Inspection Day on Saturday, May 20, from 8 a.m. until noon at Centennial Park in Sarasota, the department has announced.
Centennial Park is located at 1059 N. Tamiami Trail. It also is known as the 10th Street Boat Ramp, a news release points out.
“According to the United States Coast Guard, hundreds of lives are lost yearly, thousands of people are injured, and millions of dollars in property damage happens because of preventable recreational boating accidents on our waterways,” said Officer Ron Dixon of the Sarasota Police Department Marine Patrol in the release. “The Sarasota Police Department wants to ensure everyone has a safe boating season,” Dixon added in the release.
“Families wanting to enjoy the upcoming Memorial Day weekend may head out for a day on a boat that has seen very little use during the winter,” the news release notes. “Safety equipment checks are often overlooked in the excitement of the holiday weekend,” the release continues. “Families may later find themselves without the necessary equipment in an emergency or be upset when they are cited for violations by local law enforcement.”
A boating safety public service announcement with safety tips from the Sarasota Police Department Marine Patrol Unit may be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb3RixvFNl4