The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office has added a new rescue boat to its emergency response fleet thanks to a $35,048 grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.
According to the sheriff’s office, the grant funded the purchase of a 2026 Crestliner 1860 Retriever tunnel hull boat, complete with trailer, an 80-horsepower Mercury jet drive motor, and a Humminbird Xplore 10 graph system.
Deputy Alex Waagmeester says while some may refer to it as a rescue boat, it’s more versatile than that.
He says that shallow-water capability is key for Lyon County, especially during flood conditions when evacuations may be necessary.
Waagmeester says the idea for the boat began developing a couple of years ago as deputies evaluated waterways across the county. He says he and Sheriff Brian Hilt discovered the Firehouse Public Safety Foundation grant last summer, applied, and later learned they had been selected.
The sheriff’s office thanked the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, local Firehouse Subs restaurants in Sioux Falls, and donors who made the purchase possible.
Officials say while they hope the boat is rarely needed, it will strengthen response capabilities during future water rescues and flooding events.
This story has been updated with quotes and information courtesy of KIWA Radio
