Northwest News: Fed police party in Puget Sound on luxury boat bought with ...
Here's what's making news this afternoon around the Pacific Northwest. For more regional news, check out oregonlive.com/northwest and The Oregonian News Network .***
Fed police party in Puget Sound on boat bought with fishing fine money
BOSTON (AP) -- A luxury undercover boat purchased with fines collected from fishermen was used by federal fishery police to visit dockside restaurants with friends and for high-speed "pleasure cruising," according to documents released today.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration bought the 35-foot boat for about $300,000, so its law enforcement officers could covertly monitor whether whale watch boats in Washington's Puget Sound were harassing the animals.
But the documents indicate the boat was rarely used for official business.
"It was a fishermen-funded party boat for bureaucrats," U.S. Sen. Scott Brown said on the Senate floor today.
Brown's office obtained a November
Resale lot benefits Single Soldiers
The Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers' Resale Lot offers the Belvoir Community a secure location to showcase vehicles.
The lot, situated in the Exchange parking area, is a place for Soldiers and civilians to store cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles, boats, trailers and motor homes which are up for sale.
Rental cost is $40 per space, per month and all vehicles must be less than 18 feet in length.
Proceeds benefit the BOSS program.
Jonathon Urban, BOSS advisor, said the lot is under 24-hour surveillance via security camera and police patrols seven days a week.
Urban encourages the community to consider using the space which he believes offers great exposure.
"Anyone can post their vehicle on Craigslist, eBay or a newspaper but thousands of people are passing by this lot everyday," Urban said.
BOSS is an Army program designed to fulfill the recreational, community engagement and life needs of single Soldiers.
The organization participates in volunteering events, provides servicemembers a safe haven for placing complaints and hosts a number of events such as movie nights, skiing trips and distance runs.
The enormous operation was only made possible by the volunteer crews of a huge flotilla of privately owned boats that could operate in the shallow waters
