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Criminal Division - Navigation Unit

The Ulster County Sheriff's Office monitors
Marine Ch. 16 and Cellular One #3640

Maintaining an ardent law enforcement presence on the waterways of Ulster County, the Navigation Unit of the Sheriff’s Office patrols 55 miles of the Hudson River from Catskill south to Newburgh. Members are kept busy with transient and recreational boating traffic borne by the numerous marinas located along the river, plus that from the two major navigable tributaries, the Rondout and the Esopus. Many waterway access areas available to the public, in addition to the municipal beaches, provide for an often crowded and active season. With an increased focus on educating the public in developing safe boating habits, unit members strive to maintain the safest Ulster County waterways possible.

The Navigation Unit operates one 27 foot custom built aluminum hulled patrol powered by two 200HP outboards, one 22 foot walkaround cuddy cabin Chris Craft powered by 200HP Mercury outboard, along with a major manufacturer loaned personal watercraft. These vessels are placed in the water at "ice-out."

In service full time from Memorial Day until Labor Day, marine law enforcement trained Deputy Sheriffs monitor the boating traffic and marinas on the Hudson River and are available for water emergencies 24 hours a day. Events such as BWI enforcement, performing vessel safety inspections, addressing navigation and environmental law violations, assisting boaters in distress and handling vessel accidents are routine duties.

As an active participant in the Hudson River Marine Task Force, members of the Sheriff’s Navigation Unit shares with other navigation units its mission to enhance police and emergency response services to the public on the Hudson River Estuary through improved communication, coordination, training, planning, deployment, and resource utilization for the long term protection of natural and human resources.

As a member of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Navigation Law Enforcement Program, the Sheriff’s Office receives a percentage reimbursement for unit funding from that agency.