LAKE BILLY CHINOOK, OR -- Lake Billy Chinook will have a much larger law enforcement presence than normal, this weekend. Officers from agencies across the state will patrol the lake Friday and Saturday in an effort to crack down on drunk boating.
Jefferson County Sheriff's Captain Marc Heckathorn says drought conditions are bringing more people to Lake Billy Chinook this summer. "Lake Billy Chinoook is the highest recreated lake in the state of Oregon, especially with the water conditions across the state, so our lake has had an increase in overall activity and having some extra bodies to help detect and hopefully change some people’s behavior is the primary reason for wanting to step up our enforcement patrols this weekend."
Captain Heckathorn tells KBND, "We’re going to have units in marked and unmarked boats, somewhere in the area of 15-20 law enforcement people on the water. OSP, who has been a lead in helping coordinate this, and I know that our office, obviously, as well as Multnomah County, Linn County and Klamath County are all agencies participating this weekend." Oregon state Police will station its mobile DUII command vehicle at the lake on both Friday and Saturday, as well.
There will be space available at the Jefferson County Jail for those taken into custody, however Capt. Heckathorn says the increased patrols are simply an attempt to keep everyone safe. "I’ve been in charge of the marine program here since 2001, and I’ve been involved in some pretty bad tragedies, some you could argue could’ve been prevented if people hadn’t been consuming alcohol in the volume; it’s always a contributing factor in some of the deaths and major injuries that we’ve had."
