Aaron Kahre - Officer of the year

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) has announced Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Aaron Kahre as the Regional Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.

Officer Kahre is assigned to the Mound station, which includes a large portion of 14,000-acre Lake Minnetonka, the busiest recreational boating lake in Minnesota.

In 2009 he wrote or assisted with nine boating while intoxicated (BWI) arrests. In that same time period he worked 312 boating safety hours, including numerous nights, weekends and holidays hours on the water, as well as volunteering for extra boating detail hours outside of his own patrol area.
Kahre organized or has been the lead officer on numerous boating enforcement projects on Lake Minnetonka, targeting BWI, careless boating and other violations. He volunteered to work events occurring on both the Mississippi and Lower St. Croix Rivers, as well other boating safety details.
Officer Kahre has attended additional DWI enforcement training for impaired operation enforcement. He also has taken advantage of emergency medical technician training and training in other areas to enhance his boating enforcement skills.
He worked closely with the Hennepin County Sheriff's Water Patrol. When the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge collapsed in Minneapolis on August 1, 2007, he also worked security on the water for a number of days following the incident.

Concerned with children's safety officer Kahre took time to present boating safety information to numerous groups including schools, civic and sporting organizations, during a variety of speaking opportunities. He also actively supports the department's PFD Panda Dairy Queen awards program, which rewards kids on the water who are wearing their life jackets and also worked many public events to promote the boating safety program, such as the Minnesota State Fair, civic clubs and provided numerous "ride-a-longs" to interested youth.
Officer Kahre worked with the U.S. Secret Service during VIP visits to the Twin Cities, including an event on Lake Minnetonka. He works closely with the Hennepin County Sheriff's Water Patrol, and has assisted with accident situations and body recoveries. When the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge collapsed in Minneapolis on August 1, 2007, DNR officers and county sheriff's deputies were charged with maintaining security on the water for the 23 days following the incident. Officer Kahre volunteered to be on site for long days, assisting in the effort to make sure all of the victims of the bridge collapse could be located, and their families could receive the closure they needed.

DNR boating safety coordinator, Kim Elverum said, "Officer Kahre's boating safety enforcement effort on the water has been outstanding. He has made more contacts than any other officer in his district and is always willing to help with any request for his assistance, and collaborates well with other agencies."
The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators is a national nonprofit organization that represents the recreational boating safety authorities of all 50 states and the U.S. territories. NASBLA established its Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year program in 2000 to celebrate the nation's outstanding marine officers.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Kahre