Rescue drills on the frozen Old Forge Pond. Photo by Wende Carr
Law enforcement personnel representing the New York State Police, state park police and civilian parks and recreation staff have been participating in the annual Snowmobile Law Enforcement School this week in Old Forge.
The snowmobile training program, hosted yearly at The Water’s Edge Inn and Conference Center, includes 28 students—six of whom have never been on a snowmobile.
The program began on Monday, February 4 and runs through Friday, February 8.
Six law enforcement educators have been conducting classroom and field components of the training throughout the week.
Tim Dusza of the Erie County Sherriff’s Office. Photo by Wende Carr
Subjects covered include laws related to snowmobile operation, general snowmobile operation, Emergency Vehicle Operators’ Course (EVOC), use of checkpoints and radar, accident investigation and water rescue.
This is the third consecutive year Old Forge and Water’s Edge have hosted the training program.
Organizers site the Water’s Edge and its related facilities, and the consistent snow in Old Forge as ideal for this type of instruction.
Water’s Edge provides space across Route 28, on the grounds of Enchanted Forest/Water Safari, for snowmobile maneuvers. And its waterfront location on the Old Forge Pond is just right for the water rescue portion of the training.
The New York State Office of Parks and Recreation Historic Preservation oversees the training, with public safety as the ultimate objective.
