Ed Traylor - Florida Marine Patrol - Martin County - Stuart, Florida - 11 months in L/E

(Some names changed for privacy)

"The Initiation of Rookies"

It was still dark when I awoke that October 1977 morning. Not being one that likes to stay around the house before going to work, I decided to leave early that morning instead of waiting until 0800. I dressed and headed out, towing my patrol boat to the boat ramp. On the way I stopped by the Stuart Police Department and talked with Paula, the dispatcher. She asked me if I was involved in the drug smuggling operation going on in St. Lucie County, six miles to our North. I told her I was not, so she handed me a teletype message, warning about a smuggling operation recently discovered. I told her I would be on the alert for the "GO FAST" type boat mentioned in the teletype message I had just read. Not knowing the source of the description of a "GO FAST" boat, I considered it as information coming from a source that knew as much about boats as I know about brain surgery. I would be watching for almost any type of vessel.

As I launched my boat, I thought about how I was approaching my eleventh month as a Florida Marine Patrol Officer. I cruised pass Shepard's Park and headed out into the St. Lucie River. As I passed under the Roosevelt Bridge and turned to the East, I moved the throttle to a comfortable cruising speed and settled in for the ride. The weather was very pleasant, temperature about 74 degrees and clear skies. Looking to the East, I could see the tinges of sunshine beginning to lighten the horizon. The morning breeze blowing into my face was just cool enough for a windbreaker to cut the slight chill from the pre-dawn temperature drop.

As I rounded the curve of the river next to Hidden Harbor, I searched the area around the Ten-Cent Bridge for signs of other boats. Fishermen sometimes anchor their vessels and fail to display an anchor light. Looking to the South, I spotted the familiar red and green lights of a vessel approaching me. The distance appeared to be about one mile away. I steered my boat for the channel in the center of the bridge.

The relative speed of our vessels caused us to pass each other just as we were under the draw span. The lights from the bridge illuminated the area, allowing me to see that the other boat was a twenty five-foot long cabin cruiser. As we passed, I could see three men on the vessel. One was sitting and two were standing. The vessel was traveling at a slow speed and the bow of the boat was much heavier than a normal boat should be.

To reduce any suspicion the men on the boat may have concerning me, I only glanced at the vessel as I passed. I immediately knew this boat was "DIRTY." I remained nonchalant and did not turn around or make any movements that might alert them to my concerns. After traveling another mile, I radioed the dispatcher to contact Martin County Sheriff's Office and request a back up deputy meet me at Sandsprit Park, in Manatee Pocket.

Arriving at Sandsprit Park, Deputy Morgan Sprott boarded my boat. As we departed Manatee Pocketand I briefed him on the situation.Weheaded back up the river at a fast speed. . I trimmed the boat for maximum speed and set a course for the area I estimated the boat had reached in the interim period. As we rounded the point at Hell's Gate, I shut the navigation lights off so our approach would be less noticeable.

About one-quarter mile south of the 10-cent bridge, Morgan spotted a white stern light of a boat on the North side of the bridge. The approximate position would put the boat North of Pier Point Condominiums. When I am operating my boat in the dark, I always position myself in the boat seat so I can see over the top edge of the windshield. This time I was experiencing a familiar eye-watering situation caused by the chilly wind in my face. After clearing the bridge, Morgan kept me informed of the dim stern light position. By this time we had formulated the game plan and we prepared our approach on the vessel.

As we pulled alongside the port side of the boat, I attached a mooring line to a cleat on the suspect vessel. I asked the operator of the vessel for the boat registration or documentation papers. The person operating the boat took a couple of steps to the cabin door, opened it and then reached inside the cabin and was groping inside the cabin with his hand, in an unsuccessful attempt to find the requested papers. After twenty seconds had elapsed and he still had not produced the papers, I told him I was coming aboard. As Morgan kept a concerned eye on the occupants, I climbed on board, stepped toward the cabin door and asked the subject to stand aside. As he moved out of the way and I stepped to the door, I could smell the distinct odor of marijuana. The sun had not risen enough to provide enough light to allow me to see into the darkened cabin. I put my right foot in and instead of stepping on a hard boat deck, I had put my foot on something that could be nothing else but burlap bags. I immediately told Morgan the boat was "DIRTY." As I turned to see everyone, the first thing I noticed was six arms reaching for the sky. Then I saw Morgan with his revolver drawn on the subjects. He had everything under control.

After placing all subjects under arrest and secured on the deck of the boat, Morgan took a position that would ensure his control of the prisoners. I secured a line to the "D" ring of the boat and took it under tow. As Morgan radioed the Sheriff's Office of the situation, I radioed my Dispatcher and did the same.

We retraced the route I had taken earlier when I came on duty. The towing speed was slow, so it took the better part of thirty minutes to reach the Roosevelt Bridge. On making the turn on the West side of the bridge, I looked at the Stuart City Pier and could see a gathering of law enforcement personnel, representing just about every agency in the county.

After mooring at the pier and transporting the prisoners to the "Cross Bar Hotel," I returned to the pier to finish the morning and the mountain of paperwork to follow.

When the marijuana had been weighed, marked and secured, the total weight amounted to 2,400 pounds.

I finished the day thinking of how two "rookie" laws enforcement officers had started their workday.