Port of Olympia advances plan to transfer harbor patrol to sheriff’s office 

The Port of Olympia and Thurston County Sheriff’s Office are moving ahead with a plan to transfer control of the Olympia Harbor Patrol. 

The Port of Olympia Commission on Monday, Dec. 8, authorized Executive Director Alex Smith to proceed with an interlocal agreement to transfer the program to the Marine Services Unit of the sheriff’s office. The agreement’s provisions are still being finalized and are going to return to the commission for approval once completed. 

The Olympia Harbor Patrol is a volunteer-staffed program that provides security for port properties and customers in and around Budd Inlet. Volunteers also promote marine safety through educational outreach, and assist local police and fire departments during emergency responses. 

The Olympia Harbor Patrol was transferred from the City of Olympia to the port in 2015 as a way of preserving the program after the city lost funding for it, according to Harbor Senior Manager Damian Egan, who addressed the commission.

The port has been operating for the last decade, but has been wanting to transfer the program because of several factors, mainly the program being misaligned with the port’s core functions. 

Egan said the program lacks authority to enforce waterway laws, which the port has no jurisdiction. He added the program does not align with Vision 2050, which details the port’s long-term goals. 

Operational challenges have also influenced the transfer. Due to budget restrictions, the Olympia Harbor Patrol currently operates with a single vessel, “Port 1,” a 19-foot boat that is supposed to serve as a backup.  

Two other vessels are currently out of service. The vessel “Integrity,” purchased through a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant in 2014, suffered an engine failure in 2021 and requires repair work that would cost more than $100,000.

The port has sought to transfer the vessel to the sheriff’s office since 2022. But FEMA had no process to allow such a transfer, Egan said. 

Another vessel, “Harbor 1,” went out of service this year due to engine issues. Egan said the port then renewed discussions with FEMA, which eventually allowed the release of the grant if the port could pay $15,000, which is 75% of Integrity’s fair market value. 

Once the interlocal agreement has been reviewed by legal counsel and authorized by the commission, the port may submit the required payment to proceed with the transfer. 

Egan said with the sheriff’s office leading the program, it may start doing vessel inspections and other safety checks again.  

Undersheriff Ruben Mancillas also mentioned that their upcoming acquisition of a military helicopter could further support the program.