MARINE ENFORCEMENT THE MARINE ENFORCEMENT UNIT (MEU) consists of 6 deputies, one sergeant and one commander. The MEU provides enforcement at Lake Nacimiento and Lake Lopez, working closely with rangers from both San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties. With a focus on education and boating safety, deputies contact dozens of boaters each day they patrol the county’s lakes. In addition to local lakes, the coastline of San Luis Obispo County extends south from Big Sur to the Santa Maria River, just north of Point Sal. Along these 90 miles of coastline is the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, just north of Avila Beach. The MEU is equipped to provide consistent enforcement patrols in the waters off of San Luis Obispo.
to work with the Sheriff’s Office Dive
The MEU continues to provide training
Team, the Narcotics Unit detectives and
support in the form of vessels and
our state and federal partners with the
operators to the Sheriff’s Office Dive
interdiction and safe removal of Panga
Team and the Special Enforcement
boats from our county beaches using
Detail. Separate training for both units
our 27’ Defender Class patrol boat.
are usually conducted annually in and
Timely removal of a Panga boat
around Port San Luis, Morro Bay and
minimizes the adverse environmental
Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.
impact upon the shoreline and signifi-
The MEU also provides a stable
cantly reduces man hours and costs
platform for the Dive Team’s side-scan
associated with other forms of removal.
sonar unit used for subsurface
The Defender Class boat is complemented by a Rogue Jet Boatworks 25’ patrol boat which, during the busy summer months, is primarily assigned to Lake Nacimiento and provides
searches. Members of the MEU enjoy participating in community outreach events, like the Sheriff’s Youth Summer Camp, which allows the public to have access to our fleet.
patrol, enforcement and education on the water. While on the lake, this vessel can also operate in support of other emergency service agencies for rapid transport of emergency personnel or injured parties. It is also used to assist the Sheriff’s Dive Team with its mission to patrol all the county’s lakes and near-shore waters. The MEU’s third vessel, used for utility missions,
Panga boat smuggling along the San
or to complement the other vessels, is
Luis Obispo County coastline contin-
a 22’ Zodiac Hurricane rigid-hulled
ues to present a challenge to law
inflatable boat.
enforcement. The MEU is equipped
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