KCSO responds on stranded boaters

COEUR d'ALENE — Emergency dispatchers acted professionally, politely, and within county policy when handling three 911 phone calls made last week regarding stranded boaters on Lake Coeur d'Alene, said Kootenai County Sheriff's Office Lt. Stu Miller.

Samantha Krous, a 20-year-old Coeur d'Alene resident, told The Press Friday that 911 offered no assistance when she and eight others were stranded in a broken down boat late Thursday night. However, Miller told The Press Monday that dispatchers provided information on where to get help to the boaters, and that the sheriff's office — whose three marine teams have jurisdiction over more than 43,000 acres of water in the county — does not offer towing services.

"It's not a normal service that we provide in a non-perilous situation," Miller said. "Obviously we understand that it could have been a bigger issue and, if they were in peril, we would have called and sent deputies to come and get them."

Vessels are towed, Miller added, when either the vessel itself or an individual on board is in danger from instances such as a boat sinking or a medical emergency. When there isn't what Miller called a "law enforcement issue," the sheriff's office leaves towing to private businesses in an effort to not compete with those businesses "using taxpayer or boater dollars."

In recordings of the 911 calls provided to The Press by Miller, a dispatcher can be heard referring the stranded boaters to Lake City Marine — a service that operates 24 hours a day and, according to Miller, one of the services dispatchers commonly refer to boaters with non-emergency needs. The five-minute phone call ends with the dispatcher encouraging the caller to call back if they are unable to get hold of the towing service.

In the second of three 911 calls, Tyler Hinton, who was on the boat, is asked by a dispatcher if he was unable to get hold of Lake City Marine. Hinton can be heard telling the dispatcher that the boaters were able to get in touch with the company, but could not afford to pay the $500 they needed to have the boat towed.

James Aragon, a father of one of the boaters who was on shore during the incident, also called 911 to inquire about the sheriff office's towing policy after learning of the $500 tow charge quoted by Lake City Marine. In the recording of the phone call, a dispatcher can be heard briefly explaining the policy, and asking Aragon if he would like to speak with the patrol watch commander.

"He spoke to the watch patrol commander and was advised of the tow policy," Miller said. "The watch commander also was told the boat's occupants were OK and had cellphones. He (the watch commander) further told Mr. Aragon that we didn't have any marine units on duty. Mr. Aragon said he would take his boat out to retrieve his daughter."

Miller added that boaters, just like motorists, need to be prepared before hitting the water.

"Having good working equipment and serviceable backup equipment such as oars, extra lights, marine radio, charged cellphone and resources on hand in case of assistance, is needed," Miller said. "Common sense and personal accountability also needs to play a part in preparedness."