About the Calumet County Boat Patrol...
The Calumet County Sheriff's Department Boat Patrol is a division of the Calumet County Sheriff's Department responsible for the patrol of the East shore of Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin's largest inland lake. The patrol consists of boat operators who are qualified to operate the boat, and boat crewmembers who assist the operator. All personnel must pass a Department of Natural Resources safe boating class, and are trained in the latest law enforcement and search and rescue(SAR) techiniques. All personnel must also be familier with every piece of equipment on the boat. All deputies on the boat patrol are sworn law enforcement personnel.

Lake Winnebago is Wisconsin's largest inland lake. The lake stretches from Menasha south to Fond Du Lac, from Oshkosh east to Stockbridge. Total surface area of the lake is approximately 205 square miles. The Lake is approximately 30 miles long by 10 miles wide. Total shoreline length is about 88 miles. While the lake is large on it's surface, it is not very deep. It has a maximum depth of 21 feet, and an average depth of 15 feet, so the lake can get get very rough in a hurry. Lake Winnebago is famous for it's sturgeon population, one of the few self-sustaining lake sturgeon populations in the world. Every winter, a special spearing season is allowed. Spearers will bring their shacks out on the ice and attampt to spear a sturgeon. It is common to see upwards of 3,000 ice fishing shacks out on the ice during this season. During the summer, Lake Winnebago has become on of the finest walleye fisheries in the United States.

Boat Crew Members...
The Calumet County Sheriff's Department Water Safety Patrol has 10 members qualified for boat crew duties. In addition, the Boat Patrol has 3 designated operators who have had training in the safe operation of the patrol boat. Offcicers are continuesly trained in the latest law enforcement and search and rescue techniques.

In the summer of 2001, two boat patrol crewmembers received letters of commendation for a search and rescue mission for a disabled boater on Lake Winnebago. During this mission, winds were at 45 mph and waves were 6-8 feet. The boat crew was abble to successfully locate the disabled boat which had washed up in shore. The two persons on board were uninjured. The Patrol Boat crewmembers were able to direct a land based rescue crew towards the stranded persons, who were later led to safety.

In July 2003 Deputy Rick Riemer was recognized as the 2003 N.A.S.B.L.A. Wisconsin Boat patrol Officer of the Year.

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