Vanderburgh County Council members approved the sheriff’s request to accept a FEMA Port Security Grant and proceed with purchase and operations of a patrol boat to reestablish a law-enforcement presence on the Ohio River.

Sheriff Noah Robinson told the council the grant covers most of the $230,000‑class boat and related administrative costs, and that the county will use commissary and partner contributions to cover the remainder. “We put in last year for a FEMA port security grant … we received this highly competitive grant,” Robinson said. He described the craft as a roughly 23‑foot aluminum vessel that will be jointly used by the Evansville Police Department and the sheriff’s office for river patrols, event presence and maritime security checks.

The council discussion centered on two funding phases: the federal FEMA grant already awarded and an anticipated Indiana Department of Natural Resources river grant to cover recurring manpower, fuel and operating costs. Robinson said the county will not expend funds that FEMA will not reimburse and that this year’s operations will have no local manpower cost; next season the county intends to apply for a state grant to pay overtime for deputies and city officers who staff the boat. “We won’t be putting any money out there first in the hopes that we get the money back,” Robinson said.

Council members asked about the boat’s capabilities and visible markings; Robinson said it will carry marine and shared police radios and be marked on one side for the sheriff and on the other for Evansville Police, depending on which agency is operating it. He said the vessel will be used for safety and enforcement — registration checks, flotation-device enforcement and “checking for river vulnerabilities like intakes on the water supply” under the port‑security grant terms.

A motion to approve the sheriff’s request was made and seconded and the council voted in favor; the motion carried. Council members agreed the patrol will improve river safety and can respond to incidents in nearby jurisdictions if needed, though routine patrols will focus on waters adjacent to Vanderburgh County.

The sheriff said the grant-paid boat will be delivered in early winter to allow training next season; training and water‑rescue certification are already in progress for a selection of deputies and Evansville officers. Robinson invited council members to observe operations once the vessel is in service.