Marine and Park Patrols
Marine Patrol
There are many lakes and rivers within Jefferson County for residents and visitors to enjoy. Some of our lakes offer year round use while others generally have activity from mid-April through October. During the year thousands of motorized and non-motorized boaters recreate on these waters. Activities include fishing, camping, water skiing, waterfowl hunting, sailing, swimming, cruising, and wake boarding.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol unit responds to and deals with law enforcement issues such as Boating under the Influence (BUI), speeding complaints, careless operation and all water-related accidents throughout the county. The unit conducts Mandatory Boater Education classes each spring, assisting the public in obtaining their mandatory Boater Education card to legal operate a 10 horse power and greater power boat. They also conduct public education classes in boating and water safety in area schools.
Our high lakes often freeze over or become snowbound during the winter but our two biggest and busiest lakes (Lake Billy Chinook and Lake Simtustus) remain open year round along with three rivers (Deschutes, Crooked, and Metolius).
Our marine unit consists of two fulltime deputies provided under a contract between PGE and the Warm Springs Indian Reservation along with four seasonal marine deputies and a part-time Marine Program Manager, whom are all paid for by the Oregon State Marine Board. They all work together with the goal of keeping everyone safe while they recreate on our waterways.
Park Patrols
Our marine unit covers the water and our park patrol teams cover the lands during the busy summer months in some of our most popular areas. Our office contracts with Oregon State Parks to provide two Seasonal Deputies to patrol the Cove Palisades State Park and another Seasonal Deputy Patrols primarily by land the Lower Deschutes River from the Warm Springs dam to the county line near Trout Creek campground. These contracts provide enhanced patrols in these areas allowing our fulltime staff to remain available for calls elsewhere in the county.
