Sheriff's Office

For Immediate Release

PR #:	1900020
Date Issued:	Mar 01, 2019 - 4:28pm
One dollar buys new airboat for the Washoe County Sheriff's Office Hasty Team
CONTACT:	Bob Harmon Washoe County Sheriff's Office Office 775-785-6235 Cell 775-722-5517

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Volunteers with the Washoe County Sheriff's Office Hasty Team just received an important new piece of equipment to assist with in-the-water rescues, an airboat they can use for missions on shallow bodies of water such as Swan Lake.

The airboat could also potentially be used to speed response time for ice rescues, particularly in areas where thin ice is an issue.

The Truckee Fire Protection District sold the airboat to the Hasty Team for one dollar after TFPD acquired a new boat for their use. The airboat is a rescue tool that Washoe County Search and Rescue Hasty Team has been in need of for some time.

Hasty volunteers are stationed at the edge of Swan Lake during the annual National Championship Air Races at Stead Airport in case there is ever a need to perform a water rescue. Swan Lake is shallow with large amounts of growth in the water, requiring the use of an airboat. In years past, Hasty had to borrow boats from other entities such as the Truckee Fire Protection District to support this mission.

"Thanks to the men and women of Truckee Fire our search and rescue teams are now better equipped to serve our community," Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said. "When we're needed for this kind of a mission, we're ready to go."

Photo: The new Washoe County Sheriff's Office Hasty Team airboat on Swan Lake in 2018. Hasty team volunteers borrowed the boat from Truckee Fire Protection District for a couple of missions on Swan Lake that year. Today Hasty purchased the boat from TFPD for one dollar.

The Washoe County Sheriff's Office is dedicated to preserving a safe and secure community with professionalism, respect, integrity and the highest commitment to equality. Sheriff Darin Balaam is the 27th person elected to serve as the Sheriff of Washoe County since the Office was created in 1861. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office strives to ensure public safety by building trust and creating partnerships within the diverse communities in which we serve. We will promote the dignity of all people supported by our words and actions through open communication while fostering an environment of professionalism, integrity and mutual respect.