ANNAPOLIS - High water levels, flood debris, extremely warm temperatures and the ever-present threat of severe weather this July 4th holiday weekend did not slow the men and women of the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) as they checked close to 20,000 boaters and made over 12,000 contacts on Maryland waterways, and watched over 426,000 visitors to state public lands.
Fifteen subjects were arrested for operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol (a 60 percent increase from last year)NRP checked 19,845 boaters, made 12,686 contacts and performed 3,712 vessel safety inspections over the extended holiday weekend. Officers issued 417 citations and 1,531 warnings on the state's waterways and 181 citations and 256 warnings in state forests and parks. Fifteen subjects were arrested for operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol (a 60 percent increase from last year), nine for other criminal acts and one for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol in state forests and parks. NRP investigated 26 boating accidents with no life threatening injuries and three accidents in state parks with one fatality.
"Operation Eagle Talon is part of our continuing commitment to saving lives," said Col. Mark S. Chaney, Superintendent of the NRP. "The Maryland Natural Resources Police are committed to public safety and environmental conservation."
The Maryland Natural Resources Police is the enforcement arm of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). With an authorized strength of 280 officers and a dedicated staff of civilian and volunteer personnel, the NRP provide a variety of services in addition to conservation and boating law enforcement duties throughout the State of Maryland. These services include homeland security, search and rescue, emergency medical services, education, information and communications services on a round the clock basis. NRP is the only police force aside from the Maryland State Police that has statewide jurisdiction.