Prince George’s County police have joined the ranks of the Coast Guard and the Maryland Natural Resources Police, launching a trio of watercraft to police the county’s 50 miles of coastline and, in particular, the $2 billion National Harbor.
In 2000, when what would become National Harbor was still called Port America, Lt. Ed Talik said he started researching plans for the marine unit that started operations in December. And now that his dream has become a reality, Talik said he’s shrugging off his chance at retirement so he can run the unit and take the helm from time to time, too.
The marine unit — housed at the Fort Washington Marina — is charged with policing the Potomac, keeping it clear of drunken boat drivers and an eye out for speedsters who get too close to the many boats expected to be moored at the harbor’s three piers where big wakes can cause damage.
A federal grant used to buyone of the boats also requires county police to survey the Wilson Bridge, checking for bombs and suspicious activity 20 hours a week.
The county received about $225,000 in federal and state grants to get the operation running. Talik said he couldn’t say how many officers were in the unit, citing county protocol that doesn’t allow the release of tactical information, but he did say the officers were taken from other posts and not hired specifically for the unit. The county will have to cover their salaries and gas costs moving forward.
Since the boats went in the water, Talik said they’ve played a role in policing the Potomac during the State of the Union address and the pope’s recent visit to the region. Last month, the unit started issuing tickets, but they’ve mostly been warnings as boat drivers adjust to the new police presence.
Plans for the marine unit were nearly scuttled last summer when the Natural Resources Police claimed jurisdiction over the water running past National Harbor, but the state didn’t have the manpower to police the waterway full time and agreed to work with the county to fill in the gaps, said John Erzen, spokesman for County Executive Jack Johnson.
There are no cabins on any of the boats, Talik said. “We’re out here to do work, not to kick back.”
