BENTON HARBOR — The Berrien County Sheriff Department's brand new $180,000 rescue boat is dry-docked after a 6-foot wave caused the boat to capsize.
The sheriff department's marine division was out on Lake Michigan searching for a kayaker who has been missing since Sunday. His body has not surfaced.
The 25-foot boat was designed for large waves and treacherous waters, but a police spokesman said the wave hit it at the right angle causing it to flip upside down on Monday.
"It's made for the bigger lakes and the bigger rivers," said Chief Deputy Mike Bradley."It's a 30-year purchase."
Since Monday afternoon, the boat sits in the sheriff's garage and it will stay that way for a while.
One look inside the boat, it is easy to see all of the broken glass and damaged equipment.
"The cockpit took the brunt," said Bradley.
Officers are trained to expect the unexpected in an unpredictable Lake Michigan, and that is exactly what they got on Sunday and Monday when they searched for the body of the missing kayaker.
