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County approves contract with Hudson Protective to patrol conservation lands using off‑duty FWC officers
Summary
Martin County approved a contract with Hudson Protective Enterprises to provide patrols on county conservation lands using off‑duty Florida Fish and Wildlife officers and independent contractors; the board approved an insurance deviation to allow the vendor’s lower commercial auto limit consistent with state sovereign immunity caps.
Martin County commissioners unanimously approved Jan. 28 a contract with Hudson Protective Enterprises to provide patrol services on county conservation lands, a county official said, using off‑duty Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers to address illegal off‑road vehicle use, illicit structures and other trespass or enforcement issues on protected property.
Michael Houston, senior project manager for the county’s Environmental Resource Division, told commissioners the program will provide directed patrols where county staff previously lacked safe enforcement presence. Houston said the patrols will be used to protect sensitive habitats from damage by off‑road vehicles, stop illegal encampments and improve safety for county crews and code personnel who perform inspections.
Assistant county attorney Frank Morley explained the contract contains an insurance deviation: the vendor cannot obtain the county’s usual $1 million commercial auto coverage but can provide limits aligned with Florida sovereign immunity (the state’s FWC insurance structure). Morley said Hudson Protective will operate primarily with 1099 independent contractors who are off‑duty FWC officers; when officers encounter active criminal conduct they switch roles and operate pursuant to FWC authority and insurance coverage.
Commissioners asked about the patrols’ scope and reporting; staff said the three‑year contract will be accompanied by annual or periodic reports documenting patrol activity, incidents, enforcement outcomes and locations patrolled. Commissioners expressed strong support for the measure, citing neighborhood safety concerns and repeated damage to wetlands and trails.
The board approved the contract and requested staff provide a status report after a year of operations.
