New armed boat will patrol port

[seriousstan]

Racheting up its firepower, the sheriff's office is getting a 30-foot boat with mounted machine guns for homeland-security patrols at the Port of Palm Beach and offshore.

Mounted machine guns are a first for the sheriff's office, although sub-machine guns are assigned to some deputies in specialized units.

The $163,735 cost of the boat and equipment is being paid for by a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which is helping to finance security increases at several Florida ports.

"It's basically a need to be prepared," said Maj. Dan Smith, commander of special operations for Sheriff Ed Bieluch. "Who knows what we can get hit with."

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2004/12/17/s6b_boat_1217.html