Off-duty police officers save 9-foot leatherback sea turtle choked by crab trap
These off-duty Jacksonville officers went above and beyond the call of duty as they freed a 9-foot leatherback sea turtle tangled in a crab trap.
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"The trap's rope was looped around the sea turtle's neck, and the buoy was still attached to the trap," The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook. "Whenever the turtle tried to dive, the rope tightened around its neck."
Lt. Steve Mullen and Officer Brad Smith rushed to the scene, two miles off the shore of Hanna Park in Jacksonville, Florida, on Monday.
After a struggle to free the leatherback, the largest living species of turtles, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said: "Lt. Steve Mullen was able to disentangle the distressed turtle from the crab trap while keeping the turtle in the water."
Pretty amazing day on the water!!!! Brad and Steve Mullen were able to rescue this AMAZING Leatherback Sea Turtle this...
Posted by Jennifer Bunn Smith on Monday, February 22, 2016
"So proud of both of them, and truly opportunity of a lifetime!" Officer Smith's wife, Jennifer Smith, posted to Facebook.
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