State-wide law enforcement meets in Southern Oregon for drift boat training

BOAT TRAINING PICGold Hill, Ore. — Law enforcement from all across the state are converging in Southern Oregon this week, for training on the water. Officers and firefighters from 13 different agencies began drift boat training on the Rogue River on Monday.

The week-long course focuses on water rescue techniques and how to swim in rapids. Participants also learn how to operate drift boats, rafts and catarafts on the Rogue.

“They’ll learn how to read the water, how to navigate safely through it, where this becomes really critical and important is when they’re actually patrolling, as well as going out to help people, rescues, and things like that,” Sergeant Will Coleman said.

The training is sponsored by the Oregon State Marine Board. Organizers say every student has their own teacher, providing a hands-on, focused learning experience. This is a precursor course to a jet boat training that will take place next month. It wraps up on Saturday.

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