By Linda Sutter – November 17, 2022 Remember George Zimmerman? In October the Harbor District sent two employees and the Assistant Harbormaster to “Peace Officer” training. Yep, they learned how to shoot guns and arrest people in 5 days. It should be noted the Harbor did not contact the Sheriff or the Chief of Police in regards to this matter, nor was the public informed. The Harbor spent hundreds of dollars for these three people to become Keystone cops, without placing the matter on the Agenda’s and demonstrating no transparency whatsoever. It is reported that these guns are needed to make sure that no one steals and to remove vagrants. I asked do you have powers to arrest. Mr. Rademakers response, “Oh Yes.” I asked how about placing surveillance cameras up before spending thousands on harbor police? Well that cost money Mr. Rademaker said. Hmm, I just went to Neil Lopez director of Office of Emergency Services who informed me there was money for projects such as surveillance cameras in the harbor for free. “Oh you have good ideas,” was his response. Remember George Zimmerman from Florida? Yeah he was a keystone cop with a gun and gunned down Travon Martin and got away with it. Mike Rademaker informed me that they were planning to go to a training for Maritime peace officers. Let’s see what that entails. The Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) Marine Law Enforcement Training Program provides training courses statewide to local law enforcement officers, harbor patrol officers, lifeguards, and other first responders that work in a marine patrol environment. Statewide training ensures uniform enforcement of boating laws on all California waterways. With more than 100 local government agencies providing boating law enforcement in California, the purpose of the training program is to provide comprehensive, current, and effective training courses with reliable consistency. Division of Boating and Waterways training courses are designed to accommodate all levels of boating skills. Fundamental courses for new boat patrol officers include: Basic Maritime Officer's Course, Inland Boat Operator, Boating Under the Influence, and Boating Accident Investigation. More advanced courses for experienced boat patrol officers include: Advanced Maritime Officer's Course, Rescue Boat Operations, and Marine Firefighter Operations. Funny, I didn’t see where the gun aspects of this training come in because there isn’t any. Mike Rademaker informed me that these officers will only have to qualify twice a year to hold a gun. Wow, Amazing, Pelican Bay Officers have to qualify quarterly if they are in a gun position. The Harbor got a $7,336,566.00 dollar grant to replace the sea wall. Want to bet we will never see the seawall? But that is another story.