Is More Security Needed at Lake Martin?

by WAKA Action 8 News

Thousands of people were at Lake Martin over Memorial Day Weekend and plenty of boats and jet skis were in the water. But the 44 thousand acre lake has only two marine police patrolling, so how safe is it?

The two Marine Police officers were so tied up today, they couldn’t pull away from the lake for just a few minutes so we could talk with them. Because of a lack of funding, there are only two of them for Lake Martin.  But those who vacation on the lake say they need to have more of a presence.

Over the years, the population at Lake Martin has increased drastically, especially over holidays. What hasn’t increased however, is security. With only two marine police on the lake, some say more are needed.

“Back in the 60s and 70s, we had four and there was a lot less people here and a lot less boating so we need more marine police here,” says Jim Bain.

Bain has been coming to Lake Martin since he was a child. He says now, marine police are few and far between.

“When there’s only two on a lake this size, it’s rare to see them.”

And because marine police don’t have much of a presence, some worry about those engaging in risky behavior, mainly boating under the influence. Grayson Waters says he thinks about drunk drivers while tubing.

“I don’t feel secure because when you fall off, you just think you might get hit by one of the drunk drivers and they don’t really have a good way to monitor that.”

And his mother echos him.

“I think if people were a little more afraid that they might get stopped, that would patrol it a little bit better. It would make me feel more safe.”

But Kirk Wascom, who’s been coming to the lake for 10 years, says the marine police concentrate on certain areas, like the popular Chimney Rock location.

“You’ve got Chimney Rock and the ridge area and the camp grounds,” he explains.

But he says more are still needed.

“For a lake this size, they probably do.”

We did talk to Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett, who told us if needed, the sherriff’s office will send their boats out to help. 

 Next January, state troopers will acquire marine police under the Department of Public Safety.