Ottawa County Sheriff's Office buys a SHERP amphibious vehicle that can go almost anywhere
PORT CLINTON – A new rescue-equipped SHERP amphibious off-road vehicle is now part of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office's special equipment lineup.
“One nice thing about it is we can drive it across the ice. If there’s an ice floe, we can fall through and then drive back up on the ice and rescue people,” Sheriff Stephen Levorchick said. “It will allow us to respond to incidents in a much more diverse environment. It opens our ability to respond in environments that we were not able to in the past, which includes marshland, for duck hunters, and on the ice.”
He said the SHERP can travel in any environment, including ones that would exclude traditional marine propeller use, such as a boat, and heavy-wheeled vehicles, such as fire trucks and EMS vehicles that would get stuck in marsh mud.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Ottawa county has a total area of 585 square miles, of which 56% is water. Much of that water is public marshland that is regularly used for fishing, hunting and bird watching. Annual bird watching events are estimated to bring more than 70,000 participants, many of whom will travel by foot into remote areas that are inaccessible to other vehicles.
SHERP carries up to 10 people
The new SHERP vehicle was purchased with a Homeland Security grant of $210,000, which also covers the truck and trailer needed to tow the vehicle.
“It carries two people up front and between six and eight in back. It has full flotation. The tires propel it in the water,” Levorchick said.
The truck that will tow the vehicle has also been purchased, but it is currently being outfitted with specialty law enforcement communications and safety-related equipment.
As part of the grant, several officers are being trained to drive and perform unique maintenance and operation duties.
On dry land the vehicle travels at a maximum speed of 25 mph, but in open water it can still move at 4 mph.
“I think the biggest thing here is the application to the lake, the marshes, the rivers, the streams,” Captain Aaron Leist said. “I came from Lake township. I started right before the tornado (in 2010) . That was one of the first shifts I worked. Some of those areas we couldn’t access because of road closures. If we needed to get from point A to point B, and then we needed to go through that field, there that thing is. I could carry load of EMTs, a doctor, somebody from Toledo Edison.”
Tires can be inflated or deflated with the flip of a switch
He explained that the tires utilize a unique tread, similar to an old-style paddle wheel, but they can also be deflated while moving, allowing it to climb onto ice sheets from open water. The tires also work as additional fuel reservoirs, but still work when completely deflated.
“It will allow us to access flood zones and other natural disasters, that evacuation and other issues are required for public safety,” Leist said. “The tires deflate and inflate with the flip of a switch. Think of going up on a slippery ledge, like on our lakeshore, with algae, or ice. It can climb right up the moving ice.”
Levorchick gave a marsh rescue example.
“Several years ago, we had a duck hunter stuck in a marsh. He was literally stuck in his waders and was hypothermic. We didn’t have a way to rescue that person. This would give us that opportunity. And ice fishermen, obviously,” Levorchick said.
Full-sized stretcher can be accommodated
Leist explained that is those marsh situations, especially when there is a heart attack or a broken bone and the victim needs to be on some form of a stretcher, rescuers have had to use 4-wheelers with the stretcher across the vehicle. That requires a driver and a person walking on each side, severely limiting the speed of evacuation. Trees would also limit helicopter access.
The back door of the SHERP opens to allow a full-sized basket-type stretcher inside, along with rescuers seated on the sides.
Leist said that almost every year there are ice fishers that require a rescue. In a worst-case scenario a helicopter is required with a cable rescue.
“It’s just like what you see in the movies,” Leist said, adding that it puts the rescuers in danger, and they are limited with that method to a one person at a time. There have been occasions where dozens of people have been caught on a detached ice floe, who all need rescuing.
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This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Ottawa County Sheriff's Office buys amphibious vehicle for rescues
