SEATTLE, Wash. (Sept. 14, 2016) – During its 57th annual meeting, held in Seattle Wash., Sept. 11-14, 2016, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) recognized Deputy Todd Baker with the Clark County (Wash.) Sheriff's Office as the regional Boating Officer of the Year, as selected by the Western States Boating Administrators Association
First launched 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.
Deputy Todd Baker has served the citizens of Clark County for the past 27 years. His jurisdiction—the Vancouver-Portland Metropolitan area—is surrounded by water on three sides and is home to 75,000 registered vessels and 100,000 paddle craft. It’s the fifth largest county in the state and includes 70 miles of the Columbia River and tributaries. Despite the population and boating pressure, the county has experienced a low rate of boating fatalities—just five in the last 10 years.
Baker is a key leader in Washington’s Marine Law Enforcement Training Program. He has been an instructor at the statewide Basic Marine Law Enforcement Academy since 2001 and a course coordinator three times. He is also a US Power Squadron Instructor, an International Association of Marine Investigators Instructor and a National Safe Boating Council Instructor for Close Quarters Boating Control. Baker is a licensed USCG Captain and Professional USCG Instructor. Washington State became an accredited agency under NASBLA’s BOAT program in 2015, and Baker is now a certified instructor for the Enhanced Vessel Operations Course, Boat Operator for Search and Rescue Course and soon Basic Crew Member Course.
As an enforcement officer, Baker leads the state in a number of measures. Even with Washington’s limited boating season, he accomplishes approximately 1,000 hours of patrol, 750 boating safety inspections, 214 citations and 900 warnings annually.
The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators is a national nonprofit 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. NASBLA offers a variety of resources, including training, model acts, education standards and publications. Through a national network of thousands of professional educators, law enforcement officers and volunteers, the organization affects the lives of over 76 million American boaters. To learn more about how NASBLA continues to make the waterways safe, secure and enjoyable, visit http://www.nasbla.org.