HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office wrapped up a busy Memorial Day weekend that included dozens of drunk driving arrests and multiple water rescues.
Between May 22 and May 25, HCSO worked alongside the Florida Highway Patrol, Tampa Police, and USF Police to keep impaired drivers off the streets. The joint effort led to 325 traffic stops. Officers issued 300 written warnings and 25 citations, and 36 people were arrested for driving under the influence.
The agency’s Marine Unit saw just as much action out on local waterways. On Monday afternoon, deputies were escorting a cruise ship through Sparkman Channel when they noticed a disabled boat sitting right in the massive ship’s path. Two adults and three young children were on board. Deputies quickly moved the vessel out of the way and towed the family to the Davis Islands Boat Ramp.
Almost immediately after that rescue, another emergency happened. Around 5 p.m., a boat holding five people began taking on water near the shipping channel at the Hillsborough-Manatee county line. The Marine Unit tracked down the sinking boat and brought everyone safely back to the Cockroach Bay Boat Ramp. Authorities reported no injuries in either incident.
“Holiday weekends bring heavier traffic to our roads and waterways, which means the decisions people make carry even greater consequences,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “Thanks to the proactive work of our deputies and law enforcement partners, we were able to remove impaired drivers from our community and respond quickly to dangerous situations on the water before they turned tragic. Our message remains simple: drive sober, boat responsibly, and put safety first.”
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