Oklahoma and Texas Boating Enforcement Agencies Conduct Joint Special Emphasis at Lake TexomaTroopers from the
Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) Marine Enforcement
Section and game wardens from the
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) held a joint Boating Under the Influence special emphasis operation at Lake Texoma on Saturday, July 24, 2021. Straddling the border between Oklahoma and Texas, Lake Texoma covers over 88,000 surface acres and has more than 580 miles of shoreline. It is the largest lake in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tulsa District and is the twelfth largest Corps-administered lake in the nation. During the 14-hour patrol period dubbed “Operation Sponge Bob”, Oklahoma troopers contacted over 60 boats resulting in 52 warnings and 6 arrests and Texas game wardens contacted nearly 50 boats resulting in 24 warnings and 16 arrests. The OHP Office of Highway Safety, also supported the operation on the Oklahoma side of the border by providing onsite field testing with the OHP’s EnDUI van.
OHP Lt. Mark Brown said that a joint operation with Texas had been in the planning stages for the past 2 or 3 years. “Every time we tried to put something together, there would be something come along to delay the operation. One year it was a drought, another year it was flooded and then last year the pandemic. I guess our persistence finally paid off this year. It’s always great to network with fellow officers that share a common mission and be able to put a face with a voice on the other end of a phone call or email.”
TPWD Captain Steve Stapleton thanked everyone involved and added, “Everyone’s exceptional work ethic and professional attitude made the operation a success. When the public began posting statements online I knew we had met our target objective! It takes a lot of coordination on both sides of the river to organize an operation like this.”
Those participating in the operation were:
Oklahoma Highway Patrol Marine Enforcement:
- Lt. Mark Brown
- Lt. Mike Roe
- Troopers:
- Mark Cranford
- Dennis Dickens
- Casey Hall
- Ricky Humdy
- Kevin King
- Daniel Proctor
- Jack Stranahan
Oklahoma Highway Patrol Office of Highway Safety:
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department:
- Assistant Commander Cody Jones
- Major David Murray
- Captain Steve Stapleton
- Game Wardens:
- Shane Bailey
- Daron Blackerby
- Josh Bonney
- Jarrod Bryant
- Bryan Callihan
- Daylan Damron
- Chris Fried
- Shawn Hervey
- Billy Lucio
- Randolph McGee
- Gary Miller
- Grant Moore
- Bryan Newman
- Dewayne Noble
- Daniel Roraback
- Jamie Sanchez
- Cane Shumaker
- David Stokes
Both agencies declared the program a success and are planning a similar operation again next year.