- July 20, 2026
-
-
Loading
Loading
One of Longboat Key Police Department’s most capable boats for water rescues sits on a trailer outside police headquarters.
The 23-foot Boston Whaler in LKPD’s marine fleet won’t embark again until necessary repairs are made to the boat, which is now 10 years old. The metal frame that supports the roof over the center console is cracking at the seams, and the department has pulled it from duty over safety concerns.
The Longboat Key Foundation received a $7,000 donation from a Longboat Key family to fund repairs to the boat, and started a fundraising campaign to raise the rest to get the boat back on the water.
The estimated cost to repair the boat is about $16,000. But, because of upgrades made to the 2016 center console boat over the years, repairing the boat rather than replacing it is the better move, said LKPD Sgt. Mike Mathis.
“We just got it repowered a few years ago. We just got the night-vision FLIR unit refurbished on it. It’s got a great light package. We have power poles on it,” Mathis said. “So basically, upgrading the T-top to replace it would be more valuable to us than spending the money to buy a new boat.”
As municipalities prepare budgets with future revenues uncertain due to the upcoming property tax referendum, repairing equipment is being put off. But on Longboat Key, generous citizens stepped in to support the department. Through the Longboat Key Foundation, Mike and Lynn Madden pledged the $7,000 to help repair the marine unit.
The Maddens have owned a home on Longboat Key for more than 30 years and were always impressed with the responsiveness of the local police department. Mike Madden said he is in close touch with the department and talked with the chief about things the department needs and was told about the police boat that was out of service.
Madden said he was happy to contribute and hopes more residents make donations to fund the repairs in full.
“I think the Longboat Key Police Department do an extraordinary job, and their service has been above and beyond anything I’ve ever experienced," Madden said. "As a result, when the need is there, we all need to chip in and make sure that they can perform as we want them to perform. We can fill a hole or two that might exist in the budget or their funding needs.”
Mathis said the Whaler is important to the police department because of its low deck height while also being able to navigate well in choppy waters because of its size.
“It’s easy to get around. It’s easy to pull swimmers out. We use it at the sandbars,” Mathis said. “It sits a little lower in the water. It’s easy to talk to people in the water swimming, assist kayakers. Basically every aspect of the marine unit that we do, this boat is functional.”
Longboat Key Foundation President Susan Phillips said fundraising for the boat repair would benefit locals when they need help the most.
“If you break down on the side of the road, you pretty much get an immediate response. Less than five minutes. If you’re on the water and you have a medical emergency or your boat is sinking, it’s going to be longer than five minutes,” Phillips said. “So the more marine patrol and fire rescue boats that are on the water, the better service they can provide for emergencies.”
Anyone who wishes to donate or has questions about the fundraising campaign can contact Phillips at [email protected] or 941-374-5819.
