18-ft boat strikes PWC in Navarre

On June 17, Officer Howard Jones of the Fish and Wildlife Commission responded to a vessel crash near the Navarre causeway. An 18-foot catamaran was eastbound on the Santa Rosa Sound when it struck a personal water craft (PWC). The PWC had been towing a skier and after the skier fell. Tthe PWC circled around to retrieve the fallen female and began to have engine troubles. After seeing the PWC ahead, the operator of the catamaran failed to alter his course to avoid a collision and failed to give a warning sound. The PWC operator told Officer Jones he never saw or heard the sailboat approaching. The catamaran struck the PWC. Luckily, there were no injuries. Officer Jones cited both operators for being at fault for the crash.

GBPD helps with Disaster Task Force

District 10 Florida Police Chiefs (FPCA) Disaster Task Force members, including the Gulf Breeze Police Department assembled June 14 at the rest area near exit 96 on I-10.

Assembly of equipment and officers went very well with all units mustered by 9 a.m., officials from FPCA. everal chiefs attended and some chiefs brought their City Manager or other observers, Congressman Jeff Miller's office sent District Representative Helen Rigdon, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement SAC Jim Madden of the Pensacola Office attended. The Task Force mustered 57 personnel and a command bus three housing units capable of accommodating 34 personnel three boats, eight ATVs, food and equipment trailers, 45 marked patrol cars, four trucks, two radio interoperability systems nine satellite telephones, five bicycles, one van, GPS system, search camera and one computerized traffic message board

A significant objective of the muster was to assemble the radio interoperability system and gather cell phone information. Efforts to initiate this endeavor began immediately upon arrival of all agencies and the receipt of the essential portable radio from each agency.