A large rescue boat to be used by agencies throughout the region is now being stored at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department in Waterloo.

The boat is a government military surplus item that had previously been used by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department for efforts on Carlyle Lake, Monroe County Sheriff Neal Rohlfing said.

While the boat — a 35-foot Zodiac aluminum model with two 300-horsepower outboard motors and 14-person seating — will be stored and maintained in Monroe County, Rohlfing said the plan is to involve the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System for regionwide use. The boat can be used for rescues on the Mississippi River and also for assistance in marijuana eradication along the river bank.

“We can provide help to Randolph County or other counties with this boat when they need it,” Rohlfing said. “It can be a useful tool for the region.”‘

Rohlfing is co-chairman of ILEAS Region 8, which encompasses an 11-county area. Established in 2002, ILEAS is a joint venture of the Illinois Association of Police Chiefs, Illinois Sheriffs Association and Illinois Emergency Management Agency with a stated goal to meet the needs of local law enforcement through mutual aid emergency response and the combining of resources.

“The state is stretched thin with its resources already, so ILEAS is an important asset to be a part of,” Rohlfing said.

The MCSD has a part-time officer who is a chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy and also works full-time for the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department. He is qualified to drive the boat, Rohlfing said, and the plan is to train others as well.

The boat, which was originally used by the Kane County Sheriff’s Department, comes from the same surplus program as three Humvees recently obtained for response in winter storms and other emergency situations in which the terrain is not suitable for patrol vehicles.

“I’d be perfectly fine if we never used (the boat), but it’s here if we need it and itcould help save a life someday,” Rohlfing said.

The Columbia Volunteer Fire Department has a 24-foot aluminum Jon boat with 115-horsepower motor that is mainly used to assist in river rescue efforts near the Jefferson Barracks Bridge, as well as a 16-foot Zodiac boat with an 18-horsepower motor used on ponds and for ice water rescues.