Mt. Clemens, MI - On Monday, December 4, 2023, officials with Macomb County opened the new Sheriff Marine Division Headquarters along Lake St. Clair in Harrison Township. The facility replaces the original structure, which was constructed in 1974 and last updated in 1985.
“After many years of envisioning this project, and more than a year of construction, I am pleased to officially open the new Macomb County Sheriff Marine Division Headquarters here along Lake. St. Clair,” said Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel. “This team plays a vital role in keeping our community safe, and their facilities need to reflect that responsibility. So today I’m proud to stand in this building that is now equipped with the right tools and technology to ensure the Sheriff’s Office can do its job, which is to protect and serve the citizens of our region.”
Ground was broken on the headquarters in late summer 2022. The new 14,000-square-foot facility, which cost $10.4 million to construct, features administrative offices, dispatch, locker rooms, a boat garage with five adjustable boat wells, a maintenance garage with dive team facilities, a new emergency generator and a lightning protection system. In comparison, the former headquarters offered 5,300-square-feet of space.
“With over 30 miles of frontage on Lake St. Clair, and numerous smaller lakes and waterways, Macomb County has countless recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. Along with the fun and enjoyment, however, comes a profound responsibility to safeguard those on the water, while also helping secure our borders, and provide free boater-safety instruction,” said Sheriff Anthony Wickersham. “This new boathouse provides the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office, who have dedicated their professional lives to public service, an updated facility, and cutting-edge tools and technology, to better protect our community.”
The Macomb County Sheriff Marine Division was created in 1956 to respond to a growing population in the area and an increasing use of local waterways. Its mission is to maintain water safety on Lake St. Clair through a proactive water patrol presence, boater education and patrol-related water enforcement. Its staff includes eight full-time individuals and four additional deputies during the summer. These personnel are trained and equipped for open water rescue, maritime law enforcement, vessel fire suppression and homeland security efforts.
In addition to this team, the Sheriff Marine Division has a 76-member volunteer force of Marine Safety Officers which provide additional resources for water patrol-related activities and public education-related events. This support allows the Marine Division to log more patrol hours than any other agency on Lake St. Clair, making it one of the most active law enforcement marine divisions in the state.
“Bringing this headquarters project to life required a lot of collaboration across County government,” said Hackel. “I’d like to thank everyone involved, especially our Board of Commissioners and Chairman Don Brown. They saw the need for this facility and helped by approving the necessary funding.”
“It is comforting as a taxpayer, and someone who is often on Lake St. Clair, that our modernized headquarters will be better equipped to serve those who use our Great Lakes and that it was built and paid for by cash, thanks to the excellent financial condition of Macomb County,” said Don Brown, chairman, Macomb County Board of Commissioners.