Hovercraft Allows Law Enforcement To Boost Border Security In U.P.
CEDARVILLE -- A new machine is helping law enforcement in the Upper Peninsula boost border security and keep an eye out for potential terrorists.
Mackinac and Chippewa Counties recently received a homeland security grant to purchase hovercrafts to patrol areas closely bordering Canada.
Mackinac County Sheriff, Scott Strait says “We are trying to ramp up efforts to make sure we protect the area as well as we can."
Chippewa County touches the Canadian border; Mackinac County is just minutes away. Sheriff Strait says in the 1920’s the area was used to smuggle alcohol into the US; now they’re worried terrorists could use it to smuggle bombs.
Sheriff Strait says "Softer targets like us are becoming more on the minds of terrorists because they are not as well protected as big cities or well known areas. That is why we're ramping up efforts to patrol here."
But Protecting the US border isn’t the only use for the $52,000 vehicle.
Sheriff Strait says "It's unlike anything I've ever driven. We can use it for ice rescues, in shallow water where boats can't go, and on areas of thin ice.”
