Groton, Connecticut, Police officers used their patrol boat--Marine One--to rescue boaters in distress Saturday.Town of Groton Connecticut
Two Groton, Connecticut, Police officers came to the rescue of boaters in Fisher Island Sound Saturday June 15.
The boaters were in distress as their disabled 30-foot sailboat was about to hit the rocks.
At approximately 1:30 p.m., Officer Shawn Paradis and Officer Matthew Monaghan were on patrol on the Mystic River on “Marine One”—the Groton PD’s patrol boat—when they received a distress call from a sailboat in the area of Fishers Island, New York.
The officers located the 30-foot Catalina sloop sailboat and found that it had lost the rigging supporting its spinnaker sail.
“Officer Paradis jumped onto the deck of the sailboat and assisted a Guilford man and woman onboard with gaining control of the spinnaker sail. Officers helped to secure the spinnaker sail and stowed it away below deck,” the Groton PD said in a press release.
The sailboat was then able to get under way and the boaters continued to Fishers Island. No one was injured in the incident.
“I applaud Officers Paradis and Monaghan for their quick thinking and teamwork to ensure those on board remained safe,” said Chief L. J. Fusaro Jr. “Their ability to problem-solve under pressure prevented a potential tragedy. We urge boaters to always ensure that their equipment is functioning properly and to check local weather and water conditions before hitting the water or adding supplementary sails.”
