Old Saybrook Police Chief Michael Spera and First Selectman Carl Fortuna, Jr., both professed a serious concern for public safety on the Connecticut River and Old Saybrook town shoreline, most recently at the last Board of Finance meeting on July 7. The solution presented by the police chief continues to be spend money, i.e. charter a local suitable boat for approximately $17,000, which would require a further undisclosed sum to modify it for the mission (signage and radio installation and perhaps other equipment), which would be an unrecoverable cost as it would stay with the vessel when the charter is up and need to be spent again on any future vessel.

At each meeting I have asked why the Fire Department’s vessel couldn’t serve both the police and the fire departments in a cooperative effort. There are many excuses why not, including the police chief’s, which is that he asked the fire chief and he said, “No”—and that was apparently the end of it. If the concern is as serious and urgent as portrayed, then the town asset (fire boat) should be deployed on the water staffed with both police and fire department personnel.

There is no reason I’m aware of that should stand in the way of this mutually supportive arrangement for the best interests of the town and public safety, and First Selectman Carl Fortuna should find a way to make it happen quickly.

George Wall

Old Saybrook

George Wall serves on the Harbor Management Commission.