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- The 'General Williams' patrols Georg Canaqian laws. People are often given a warning before they are charged. Suspicious boats are Li aitemet i Dl et Steere Oe lee gt has be beg Lem | 1 em! meilione JTS ww ie Terri Howell stables Greg Chinn and MIDLAND--Did you Dave Brophy are gliding ever wonder why along the crystal clear Midland's OPP officers keep their hair so short? If you were whizzing along on Georgian Bay on the open deck of a 36-foot launch doing close to 40 It miles per hour trying to hail a passing speedboat, you'd want short hair too. While the majority of Midland's OPP officers are cruising the highways looking for infractions of the Criminal Code and Highway Traffic Act, most days police con- Checking waters of Georgian Bay on the General Williams watching for infractions of the Small Vessels Act and the Criminal Code. sounds like a nice way to spend the working hours of the day. However, according to Constable Brophy it takes a great deal of tact and diplomacy to deal with people on holidays since no one wants a ticket because they forgot to bring a life jacket along. David Brophy peers over the edge of the General Williams into a small aluminum boat on a routine check for life jackets, oars or paddles and a bailing device. The General Williams patrols the waters of The General Williams is one of two police boats used by Midland's OPP detachment. The other boat, a smaller one, is used to run the rivers and manoeuvre into places the 36-foot General Williams could never reach. In the words of Greg Chinn "The 'General' is the 'showboat'. It is powered by twin 330 horsepower Chrysler marine engines." During the summer months big "'General"' is out patrolling the waters Georgian Bay daily, investigating complaints and checking to make sure the rules of waterways are being obeyed. DWARDS of Georgian Bay daily. According to Constable Brophy the boat covers an area stretching as far as Twelve-Mile Bay north of Honey Harbour and meets another detach- ment's boat halfway between Midland and Wasaga Beach in Not- tawasaga Bay. The boat received it's name from V.A.S. Williams who was the Commissioner of Police for Ontario from May 1, 1922 to September 1, 1939. It was launched at Killarney after being built there by the L.R. Lowe Boat builders in 1967. Constable Brophy explained it was built for the Ontario police. Before it came to Midland it was used in security patrols at the 1976 Olympic yacht races at Kingston and escorted the Royal Brittania from Montreal to Kingston that same year. The General Williams and her crew perform a varied task on their daily rounds. Since there is no road access to many of the cottages and homes in the 30,000 Islands, the boat cruises by them at least once a week. "Tf the people want us for anything they just have to wave us down," Constable Brophy says. He added they check for cottages that have been broken into as they pass. If the General Williams doesn't make the rounds at least once a week thieves on the mainland or in the area might take the opportunity to strike, the police officers ex- plained. When there are break- ins the OPP station in Midland is notified. The message is given to the General Williams by radio or handed to the police officers before they leave the dock. Each complaint is investigated. Both Constable Chinn and Constable Brophy say they have seen some pretty nice summer homes while in- vestigating break-ins and accidents. The officers do more than just investigate complaints, Constable Brophy perches himself ona revolving chair in the centre of General William's cabin floor with a pair of binoculars. Although he gets teased about looking for bathing beauties, he is actually checking for registration numbers on passing boats with engines over 10 horsepower. Not everyone without a registration is charged even though as Constable Brophy says, "There is no excuse, since registration is free." In a lot of cases the boat operator is given time to obtain a registration. However, if "We're better all around" i % f \ y iv J mae 3 A , J Store Hours Mon Tves. Wed. Thur. 9.30 am5:30pm Fri. 9.30 a.m. 9.p.m Sat. 9:30 am. 5:30 pm NOWIS THE TIME to add to your collection of ROYAL OU LG@OR FIGURES Due to rising production and handling costs, the price of Royal Doulton Figures will increase at the end of August. 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People without the mandatory equipment can be charged. However, the officers say they "play it by ear'. In a lot of cases Americans visiting Canada are pulled over and are G & MShoppe & Wa tson s Ladies Wear UMMER CLEARANCE i, & cover ups. Heh 4 i ; \ NOWO unaware of also investigated. Con- stables Brophy and Chinn sighted a boat last week that appeared to be empty and adrift. Using depth finder apparatus they manoeuvered into it only to discover a young couple spread out in the bottom of the boat sun- bathing. The General Williams is well equipped to deal with almost any situation. Four different radios keep the police officers in ry sleeveless blouses, knit tops, T-shirts, shorts, fashion pants, Jeans, 1&2 pc. bathing suits TEENS!!! Buy a pair of new Fall Chic jeans and getadenim TOTE BAG FREE Shop now while the Fall selection is at its greatest. G&M Shoppe 305 King St.. Midland 526-5761 Open now on Mondays 9-5:30 Thurs. & Fri. till 9 = ci NALL SUMMER STOCK Coats, dresses, long gowns, pant suits, pant tops; slacks, sleeve and ae Se a an Bay daily touch with the Midland detachment office, the Citizen Band ° emergency channel and the coast guard. One depth finder tells them how many feet of water they are travelling in allowing them to get as close as they can to people or boats in trouble. A second depth finder gauge ac- tually draws a pattern of the bottom of the lake or channel which they are travelling over helping them to spot high spots or in the case of a drowning, a body. Two weeks ago the General Williams was PRICES SLASHED TO CLEAR Watson's called to a boating ac- cident north of Honey Harbour near Cognashene. Two injured people were transported back to Midland in the boat. One used the bed in out. On the average day it travels about 40 -- 45 miles on its regular route and investigating com- plaints, according to Mr. Brophy. Constables Brophy and the cabin, according to Chinn aren't the only Mr.Brophy,andtheother police officers who one was setonthedeckon operate the General a stretcher for the return trip. For the General Williams it was all in a days work. Most days the boat patrols near Beausoleil Island and Honey Har- Williams. Other police officers are trained to drive and operate the equipment. Officers Brophy and Chinn claim their day is as busy as it would be if they were out bour into the 30,000 in a patrol car on the Islands. It attends roads. After seeing them regattas and boating in action, most would events to patrol and help agree they're right. See our new FALL FASHION arriving daily Winter coats, pant coats, dresses, blouse &skirt suits, pant suits, mix & match sets, fashion sweaters in pullovers & bulkies , slacks, Fashion pants, Jeans, skirts, blouses. LADIES WEAR Queen St., Elmvale 322-2151 Watson's Ladies Wear is open Holiday Monday Wednesday, August 2, 1978, AS ies eal WY bata \\