CAPE CORAL, FL-The Lee County sheriff’s office has a new crime fighting weapon.
One they say will allow them to go places previously off limits, even to them.
Deputies say it’s the fastest law enforcement boat around and smugglers better beware.
Criminals can hide, but on the water, deputies say, they can’t run.
Deputy Chris Nyce says, “This boat is a smugglers nightmare, you know they’re already looking at it.”
Going 60 miles per hour, deputies say it’s the fastest law enforcement boat in Lee County, and turns on a dime, all things that are helpful when chasing traffickers, or during a search and rescue operation.
Sgt. Dan Keim says, “We’re able to access criminal data bases, to conduct investigations while we’re out in the field, we have our chart plotter, it helps us navigate, another feature we have is the infrared, basically it allows us to pick up heat signatures, especially at night, and if we have someone that might have fallen overboard.”
LCSO tells us the boat cost almost 250- thousand dollars, money that comes from taxpayers in four counties.
“We also have a gun compartment that we mount rifles.”
This boat can travel farther out than the rest of the fleet, 12 miles into the gulf.
So whether saving lives, or chasing bad guys, whatever the challenge, these guys say they’re ready.
Deputy Nyce says, “There’s really not a whole lot of smuggling vessel operators that are going to out maneuver us.”
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