May23, 2012 - The South Walton Fire District (SWFD) filed a report of astolen lifeguard tower with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office(WCSO) this morning. When SWFD lifeguards reported to their post forduty (at Ed Walline Beach Access) they discovered the lifeguard towerwas missing.
TheWCSO was immediately notified and is currently investigating this asa felony crime. The lifeguard tower, which is approximately 6 ft wideat the base, 8 foot in height and is constructed of aluminum, wasapparently stolen sometime between the lifeguards going off duty at6:00 p.m. last night and 9:00 a.m. this morning.
“Thistheft affects the thousands of residents, guests and visitors thatcome to this beach location. People expect to see SWFD lifeguardsstaffing those towers and it provides a sense of security to everyoneknowing they are there protecting the beach, “said Gary Wise SWFDBeach Safety Director.
SWFDlifeguards will still be on duty at all of our lifeguard stations.However the lifeguards assigned to the Ed Walline area will not havethe advantage of casting their protective eye across the beach fromthe height of a tower. Instead they will have to cover their responsearea from ground level until a replacement can be constructed.
Anyonewith information regarding this stolen tower is urged to notify theWCSO at (850) 267-200 or (850) 892-8111.
Foradditional information please contact Sammy Sanchez, Fire Marshal orGary Wise, Beach Safety Director at (850) 267-1298
TheWCSO was immediately notified and is currently investigating this asa felony crime. The lifeguard tower, which is approximately 6 ft wideat the base, 8 foot in height and is constructed of aluminum, wasapparently stolen sometime between the lifeguards going off duty at6:00 p.m. last night and 9:00 a.m. this morning.
“Thistheft affects the thousands of residents, guests and visitors thatcome to this beach location. People expect to see SWFD lifeguardsstaffing those towers and it provides a sense of security to everyoneknowing they are there protecting the beach, “said Gary Wise SWFDBeach Safety Director.
SWFDlifeguards will still be on duty at all of our lifeguard stations.However the lifeguards assigned to the Ed Walline area will not havethe advantage of casting their protective eye across the beach fromthe height of a tower. Instead they will have to cover their responsearea from ground level until a replacement can be constructed.
Anyonewith information regarding this stolen tower is urged to notify theWCSO at (850) 267-200 or (850) 892-8111.
Foradditional information please contact Sammy Sanchez, Fire Marshal orGary Wise, Beach Safety Director at (850) 267-1298
