Full Notification

At 2:30 PM today, the Green Bay Police Marine Unit will be unveiling a new marine vessel that will be patrolling the federal waterways in Green Bay. Marine Officers have been working hard to increase the size of our fleet as our previous boats have been on patrol since the early 2000’s.

Currently, the Marine Unit has a 30 ft. Zodiac that can be seen at various days and times patrolling the Fox River. Previously, we had used a 20ft Pro-line boat that has been in patrol for the last 16 years. It is this boat that is being taken out of service and replaced with our new 25ft. Safe boat. The Safe boat was obtained through Government Surplus as this boat was previously operated by the United States Coast Guard out of the port in Chicago.

Locating the Safe boat through government surplus saved the city countless dollars as this boat brand new would cost well over $200,000. The city of Green Bay was fortunate to secure this boat for $40,000 plus equipment. This purchase would not have been possible without the fiduciary support of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. As the DNR administers grant funds not only to supplement daily patrols but for equipment purchases like this boat.

As we prepared this boat to protect our waterways, we also wanted to remember a former officer that left a legacy on the Green Bay Police Marine Unit. On April 20, 2018. Officer Terry Halvorson died after giving his all in a fight with pancreatic cancer. Officer Halverson was hired in 1989 and retired in 2014 after 25 years of dedicated service. He patrolled the waterways with the boats described above from 2004 until 2013. Current Team leader Officer Steve Scully described “Terry was one of the best boat Captains we have ever had.”

To honor Officer Halvorson’s legacy and for his family to forever remember he had a lasting effect on all of us, the GBPD Marine Unit numbered the new Safe boat 165, Terry’s badge number, to keep his legacy alive. There will be an engraved plaque placed in the boat in Terry’s memory.

Please join us at 2:30 PM at the Green Bay Metro Boat Launch as the Safe boat will be on display. Police Chaplain Fr. Richard Getchel will bless the boat followed by a short presentation for Officer Halvorson’s family. The media will be allowed to board and go underway following the presentation.