By Susanna Ray
Herald Writer
SEATTLE — They’re watching to see if you’re a terrorist. But they’ll also help if you run out of gas.
An influx of about 200 Coast Guard reservists into the Puget Sound area after last month’s terrorist attacks means plenty of extra eyes on the water looking out for suspicious activity, and plenty of extra hands to help stranded boaters.
"We’re just little nosy people that run around butting into people’s business," joked John Yoder, an active-duty Coast Guard seaman, during a Coast Guard patrol of Elliott Bay on Wednesday. "They haven’t told us of anything specific to look for. If something catches our attention and doesn’t seem right to us, we’ll check it out and investigate."
Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the East Coast, the Coast Guard has stepped up its patrols here in 41-foot utility boats and added security to the list of normal duties such as search and rescue and law enforcement.
"That can be anything from the way a vessel looks to something in the water to some sort of shore activity," said Lt. j.g. Scott Casad. "It’s just a heightened awareness."
The patrols have dramatically increased with the help of the reservists, Yoder said. "There’s always somebody out here now. There’s never down time anymore."
Yoder used to work one 24-hour shift every four days; now he does one in three. And "now it’s like nine crews instead of just one," he added.
So far, the extra patrols on Washington’s inland waterways haven’t turned up any problems.
"We’ve been alarmed by a few things, but upon further inspection it’s always turned out to be the general boating public doing whatever," said reservist Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian Bernier. "Most often, it’s just been lack of knowledge, so we educate them."
During Wednesday’s patrol, the only action came when Bernier pointed out a pleasure craft poking around next to a docked state ferry. But closer inspection revealed that the craft was actually a Coast Guard Auxiliary boat. Friendly waves were exchanged, and the patrol boat headed back toward sea.
The crews aren’t just sticking to the heavily populated Seattle area on their patrols, Bernier said. "We do Everett, too. Everett, Possession Sound, Bremerton, we do all over."
Bernier, a reservist, said he was working his regular route as a mail carrier in Vancouver on Sept. 14 when his cell phone rang and he found out he’d been called up. He went home, packed his clothes, fishing rod and skis and headed north for Seattle with orders to plan for up to a year here. It was a call he had been expecting since Sept. 11.
"I was waiting for it," he said. "I wanted the opportunity to serve my country."
The influx of reservists in the past month has been hectic, Yoder said, but it’s going well.
"I don’t think people are upset they have to be here," he said. "I think they’re glad they can do something. They’re happy to help."
You can call Herald Writer Susanna Ray at 425-339-3439
or send e-mail to ray@heraldnet.com.
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