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Lee County Sheriff's Deputy to Enforce Federal Waterways Law
Jun 19, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE A Lee County Sheriff's Deputy will begin enforcing federal marine protection laws on Thursday, June 21st when the officer becomes a Deputy US Game Warden. The move is the result of an agreement between the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Sheriff's office to expand the powers of Lee County's Marine Resource Deputy. Earlier this year the Sheriff's office and the Lee County Division of Natural Resources (DNR) executed an agreement to dedicate a full-time marine unit deputy to focus on protection of marine resources. Corporal Joe Ragen will assist county DNR personnel in the investigation, apprehension and prosecution of abandoned vessel cases; enforcement of state and federal manatee zones; and monitoring of fisheries violations on Lee County artificial reefs. Ragen is one of only a handful of local officers in the country to be granted federal law enforcement powers. The agreement to deputize officers federally is usually entered into only with state agencies. US Fish and Wildlife Service Officers suggested bestowing Federal powers on the Resource Deputy at a Lee County Marine Law Enforcement Task Force Meeting Deputy US Game Warden Status will be made official at the June Lee County Marine Law Enforcement Task Force meeting on Thursday, June 21st, at 2pm at the Lee County Sheriff's Office on Six Mile Cypress Pkwy. A portion of every meeting is open to the public and the media is encouraged to attend. Agencies involved in the Marine Task Force are: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Division of Law Enforcement, Lee County Sheriff's Office, Cape Coral Police Department, Fort Myers Police Department, Sanibel Police Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Coast Guard – Ft. Myers Beach Station, and the Coast Guard Cutter Marlin. Participating agencies are committed to protect the users of Lee County's waterways, safeguard property, and conserve and protect marine life and its environment. MEDIA NOTE: For more information about the Lee County Marine Law Enforcement Task Force, please contact Justin McBride at Lee County Division of Natural Resources – Marine Program. Phone: (239) 479-8109 |