MIPD Marine Patrol unit gearing up for Seafair weekend

Published 4:00 pm Thursday, July 23, 2026

Mercer Island Police Department (MIPD) Marine Patrol unit Sergeant David Herzog and his crew are gearing up for Seafair weekend from July 31-Aug. 2 as there’s expected to be the usual cornucopia of boaters cruising on Lake Washington.

The unit will have all three of its boats on the water throughout the weekend and fully staffed with at least six officers and some U.S. Coast Guard members.

“Our primary job is going to be patrolling, making sure everybody stays safe, sober when they’re operating and abiding by the rules that Seafair puts in place during that event,” said Herzog, adding that vessel operators can’t enter certain zones until the U.S. Navy Blue Angels have completed their thrilling airshow.

Herzog said that people also need to be aware of no-wake zones, which are unfamiliar to many boaters.

“That’s probably the primary reason why most boats are stopped during Seafair. Bow riding, stern riding, you can’t tow a tube or anything in that box. It’s a pretty restricted zone on what you’re allowed to do during the Seafair weekend,” he said.

The city of Mercer Island warns water-goers that boating under the influence (BUI) will be strictly enforced across Lake Washington and added that people can call 911 to report any safety concerns or emergencies.

As of the Reporter’s deadline for this issue, Herzog said the Marine Patrol unit hadn’t issued any BUI citations during this boating season.

In order to stay safe on the water, Herzog said that, in part, it’s required for people to have life jackets on board boats or paddle craft. According to the King County website, state law requires children ages 12 years and younger to wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket or vest on vessels less than 19 feet long.

Herzog said there’s been an uptick of cases this year where people riding jet skis or paddle boards have been improperly wearing their life jackets or don’t have them on board.

“It’s a constant educational thing out there,” he said. “Trying to keep people as safe as you can, especially with this storm that we had this winter and spring that flushed all these logs out into the water that required most of our time all the way up until May just removing logs — but there’s still some that we missed.”

Earlier this summer, the city reminded people that all vessel operators age 50 and under are required to take an approved boating education course to command their water crafts with a motor stronger than 15 horsepower. Boaters are also advised to carry a sound-producing device, a flashlight, a Type B fire extinguisher and a first aid kit.

DANGERS ON THE WATER

On the evening of July 11, the MIPD Marine Patrol unit responded to a non-injury boat fire in south Lake Washington between the Island and Seattle. Working in tandem, MI officers and Seattle Harbor units used lake water to extinguish the blaze as the approximately 18-foot recreational roundabout took on water and ultimately sank.

According to MIPD, “all occupants safely evacuated the vessel prior to the arrival of emergency responders.” The cause of the fire was still under investigation at press time.

Herzog said there have been drownings statewide during this boating season, including a couple that the MIPD Marine Patrol unit has been called out to assist with on Lake Washington.

The day following the boat fire, the local unit provided assistance for a man who sustained a seizure on a vessel on Lake Washington near Renton. They helped bring the man back to shore and he was transported to the hospital.

“He’s OK,” Herzog said of the man’s condition, adding that bystanders from another boat prevented the man from falling into the water.

When Herzog and officer Luis Paz arrived a couple minutes later, Paz jumped aboard the vessel and provided aid.

“I ran to shore, grabbed the fire personnel from Renton, and went back out to the boat and did more professional aid care on him,” Herzog said.

PATROLLING THE WATER

MIPD’s unit will normally run one boat Monday-Thursday and add a second boat in sunny weather conditions Friday-Sunday. The locals are also joined on the water by Seattle Harbor Patrol, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Coast Guard.

During the nighttime portion of Mercer Island’s Summer Celebration on July 11, the Marine Patrol unit kept an eye on the 10 p.m. fireworks show near Luther Burbank Park.

“Everything went extremely well. It was a 20-minute fireworks show and everybody was happy with it,” said Herzog, adding that there was no cause for concern during the event.

The unit’s primary job is to connect with the fireworks company and know what the standoff distance is from the barge containing the fireworks, and create a containment area to keep boats away from the barge.

“All the boats did amazing. They actually remained further away than what they needed to,” he said. “And then once the fireworks event is over, we go to the potential hazard areas and leave our patrol lights on to encourage people to slow down and just be aware that we’re there.”