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Comment by XLFD on September 1, 2013 at 8:58pm

Walked down to the beach later this afternoon from the south around 5:30 PM.  As I was walking along Loomis aside the City Marina, two beach patrollers came from behind me going towards the beach on Loomis Street, so something important must have took both of them away from the beach for a time.  Ten minutes later we come up to the Loomis Boat Launch area, and they're looking around the parking lot (I only saw one issued ticket, however, after they left in 5 minute. 

The lake was fairly calm even with this warning, but both patrollers were gone from the beach for at least twenty minutes, when plenty of people were in the water when we arrived.

Comment by XLFD on September 1, 2013 at 1:11pm

The above was taken on Labor Day Saturday, today, Labor Day Sunday, I witnesses the same Beach Patrol guy waiting around the Loomis Street Boat Ramp for about 15 minutes at which time he was relieved at the post by an LPD Tahoe driving officer.  This isn't part of the beach that they are supposed to be patrolling, it's outside of Stearn's Park.  I was half tempted to go over and ask him whether he noticed anybody having difficulty swimming in the water.

The signature weekend of late summer and historically the most dangerous time for swimming in Lake Michigan and the so-called Beach Patrol is found anywhere but the beach.  Mayor Henderson says this is a better system for our safety than the three lifeguard system we used to have, which cost less money and would actually be around for rescue purposes.

Comment by XLFD on August 31, 2013 at 12:13pm

The above pic was taken on Dowland, after I had noticed them passing me out on First Street, I went back to get my camera and wonder about this use of resources.  The LPD Tahoe was parked on the shoulder of Madison creating a traffic hazard before this.  It's purpose seemed to serve as an escort for it at least partway, but it didn't do a good job of it.