The following are actual police reports as written by Longboat Key Police Officers. They are edited for length, punctuation and to protect privacy.
Aug. 30
Boat
2:46 p.m.
Sgt. Montfort while on patrol, was dispatched to a marine rescue in the area of 2500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive. It was reported that a sailboat was in distress a mile offshore and was stopped in the water. Officer Mathis and Sgt. Montfort deployed the Boston Whaler patrol vessel and responded to the area in the Gulf of Mexico. Officers arrived in the area a short time later and located a small hobby-craft sailing vessel approximately a mile offshore. The captain of the hobby craft stated that the wind had stopped and he was unable to get back to shore. Officer Mathis and Sgt. Montfort escorted him and the vessel back to shore. The captain said he did not need medical attention and appreciated the response. Case clear.
Aug. 31
Kayak
11:55 a.m.
Officer Pescuma was dispatched to Spanish Drive North in reference to an overturned kayak with a person in the water. While in route, dispatch informed Sgt. Butler that the man was picked up by a good Samaritan on a nearby vessel and was no longer in distress. The operator of the kayak was making arrangements to salvage the kayak. At this time, the kayak is not a hazard to navigation and is located outside the navigable waterway, east of the intercoastal waterway. Once on scene, Officer Pescuma observed the Manatee Sheriff’s Office Marine unit on scene with kayak and they advised that there were Florida registration numbers on the hull. The kayak has a small engine with minimal fuel onboard. Case clear.