EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEVV) — The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office and the Evansville Police Department launched their new Joint River Patrol Unit on Friday, April 17, reestablishing a dedicated law enforcement presence on the Ohio River for the first time in more than 25 years for the Sheriff’s Office. The patrol will cover approximately 36 miles of shoreline within Vanderburgh County, including the Port of Evansville.
The patrol vessel, named Riverwolf, was partially funded through grant dollars from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Coast Guard Port Security partners. An Indiana Department of Natural Resources grant will cover overtime costs associated with staffing the unit.
The vessel’s name honors Charlie Wolfinger, a former Special Deputy who was a familiar and respected presence on the river throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. Rob Henson first suggested reviving the river patrol program and played a key role in writing the grant that helped bring the project to fruition…