Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 25

While on boat patrol on the Ohio River one evening, WCO Jeremy Allen and I stopped to check an individual who was fishing without displaying his fishing license. As I talked to the angler, I had the feeling that not all was as it should be. After nearly 20 years in law enforcement, I have learned to listen to my gut instinct. The individual replied that “he had not caught anything, but he did keep hooking the bottom.” I asked what he was using and he replied “grubs.” I asked to see his license, and he told me that he left it at home. I asked him for his name and date of birth, so I could check the computer system to see if he had a license. He gave me his name and date of birth, and I ran his information to verify it. I was not at all shocked to see that, not only did this angler not have a license, but he also had an active warrant for his arrest. After informing WCO Allen what I had learned, we placed this individual under arrest, issued citations and transported him to the county jail.— WCO Michael P. Walsh, Eastern Allegheny County.

Gut feeling

his mistake and hopefully realize the importance of it. It just may save his life someday.—WCO Craig A. Garman, Blair and Huntingdon counties.

One day, I started my patrol by checking my post office box. I spoke with a few locals and got back into my truck. I pulled out and started down the road. Then, I realized that I was going the wrong direction for the route that I had planned on patrolling that day. Fortunately, there was a road that would put me back on track at the next intersection. I turned and proceeded to enjoy my scenic route with steep hills and blind turns to my destination. As I reached the top of one of the hills, I met four horses standing in the

Horsing around

assistance. As I returned to my truck, I realized that I was quickly drawing an audience of concerned locals, none of which had seen these particular horses before. Meanwhile, the horses ran in the nicely manicured lawn as if playing tag. After what seemed like hours of making phone calls and talking to passersbys, it looked like I was going to be stuck with the horses. Finally, a large truck pulling a trailer stopped to see what was going on. The driver immediately recognized the horses as her own. She had just moved in next door and hadn’t had the chance to put up a fence yet. The horses had been in a temporary enclosure but were able to escape. I am trained for dealing with various kinds of wildlife, but I have never attended a course with instruction on what to do with a horse.—WCO Chad McKenrick, Northern Susquehanna and Eastern Bradford counties.

While patrolling Raystown Lake with WCO Anthony Quarracino, we encounterd a juvenile male committing a violation on a personal watercraft. After escorting the youth to the nearby campsite to speak to his parents about the violation, WCO Quarracino gave the father of the young man an opportunity to satisfy the violation by taking responsibility and receiving the citation instead of the youth. The father replied, “I’m not the dummy who broke the law, he was. He can pay the fine.” The young man was subsequently issued the citation by WCO Quarracino. We were impressed with the father’s reaction in making the youth stand up to his own mistakes. We find most parents defend their children and often request the citation be made out in their name instead of the youngster who committed the violation. It was a welcomed response that this father wanted his son to learn from
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Accountability

middle of the road. In most cases when I encounter an animal on the road, the animal tends to remove itself, but I guess not horses. I turned on my emergency lights and pulled off the road. It wasn’t until I approached the horses that they decided to move off the road. They ran over to a fence containing yet another horse. I walked to the nearest house and knocked on the door assuming that they had four escaped horses. Nobody answered the door, so I decided to call Susquehanna County dispatch for

While on a boat patrol with DWCO Keshvari on Sayers Lake, Centre County, I noticed a sailboat nearby. As the sailboat approached our location, it was attempting a hard turn when the hull went straight up into the air, and the sailboat completely turned over. All three passengers were thrown into the water. We immediately went to assist and turned on our boat patrol lights to signal to oncoming boats of people in the water. We instructed them to get their life jackets on and helped the individuals onto our boat. DWCO Keshvari and I gathered all their belongings floating in the water and towed the swamped sailboat and its occupants to shore. With help from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources staff, we were able to get the sailboat pumped out and all individuals onshore safely. Thanks to the perfect timing on this particular day, DWCO Keshvari and I were able to help a group of boaters have a safe ending to a day out on Pennsylvania waters.—WCO Gregory Kraynak, Centre County.

Timing is everything

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • January/February 2013

illustration-Jeff Decker

http://www.fishandboat.com

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013

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