2026 NASBLA Western Region Boating Officer of the Year Award Presented to Sgt. Travis Vessells
In 2025, Vessells served as president of the California Boating Safety Officers Association while also leading the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Marine Enforcement Unit to receive the 2025 Operation Dry Water Western Region Law Enforcement Award.
Under his leadership, the Marine Enforcement Unit conducted 1,068 enforcement stops during the 2025 boating season, issuing 631 citations and 669 warnings while making 48 boating under the influence (BUI) arrests on the Colorado River and Lake Havasu. The unit also addressed 202 California vessel operator card violations and 139 reckless operation violations on some of the busiest recreational waterways in the region.
Impaired boating enforcement continues to be a major focus of Vessells’ work throughout 2025. During the 2025 Operation Dry Water weekend, he led targeted enforcement efforts resulting in more than 120 vessel contacts, direct safety contacts with more than 1,000 boaters and eight BUI arrests. Over the past five years, the unit recorded 245 BUI arrests during Operation Dry Water and related holiday enforcement operations under his leadership.
As supervisor of the Marine Enforcement Unit, Vessells oversees search and rescue operations along nearly 90 miles of the Colorado River system. His leadership helps ensure rapid response capabilities for boating incidents, medical emergencies and technical rescues across one of the busiest marine patrol regions in the West.
In addition to enforcement operations, Vessells plays a major role in marine officer training and professional development throughout California. As lead instructor for the California Division of Boating and Waterways Inland Boat Operator Course at Lake Havasu, he helps train marine officers in advanced boat-handling and operational techniques. He also serves as a primary instructor for boating incident investigation courses and is widely recognized for his expertise in marine incident reconstruction.
Vessells also works closely with local, state and neighboring agencies to strengthen coordination, expand joint training opportunities and promote consistent marine enforcement practices throughout the region. His outreach efforts with marina operators, boating organizations and industry stakeholders continue to support broader boating safety initiatives throughout the region.
Vessells’ leadership, mentorship and commitment to public safety continue to make a lasting impact on recreational boating safety efforts throughout the western United States.
NASBLA congratulates Sgt. Travis Vessells on being named the 2026 Western Region Boating Officer of the Year!
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First presented in 2000, the Marvin “Butch” Potts Memorial Award, known as the Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award, is presented annually to the boating law enforcement officer who has made outstanding contributions to the field of boating law enforcement. The award program consists of three levels: state, regional and national.
The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is a national nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety. NASBLA represents the recreational boating authorities of all 50 states and the U.S. territories. We offer a variety of resources, including training, model acts, education standards, publications and more. Through a national network of thousands of professional educators, law enforcement officers and volunteers, we affect the lives of nearly 85 million American boaters.