Ex-Fed Accuses VMRC of Wasteful Spending

6 News Richmond, Why retired officer says Marine Police guarding the Chesapeake Bay are being ‘wasteful’ 

Andrew Cortez cares deeply about the Chesapeake Bay.

"The Chesapeake Bay is our natural heritage," Cortez said. "A healthy bay helps everyone."

The retired law enforcement officer was an investigator for 36 years, working to keep the Chesapeake in check with different agencies as a special agent with U.S. Fish and Wildlife.

He now has concerns about the group meant to do just that: the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, which oversees Virginia Marine Police.

He's talking about the recent purchase of a 2024 Pathfinder, a boat commonly used for fishing, costing $183,529.16.

Documents he received through a Freedom of Information Act Request, which he shared with CBS 6, show the purchase was made on March 5. The paperwork said it would be needed by April 4, 2024.

"They've got these rocket launchers; they're sort of a holder for rods. For fishing rods," Cortez said. "And it's got the full fisherman package on it. It's not something that would be used for law enforcement or for fisheries research."

VRMC told CBS 6 that the vessel was purchased through the competitive bidding process in compliance with all state laws and policies.

"This vessel will be deployed in the Middle Area Law Enforcement Region for the Virginia Marine Police as a daily patrol vessel to enforce Virginia fishing and safe boating laws, as well as search and rescue operations. It has not been deployed in the field for law enforcement use yet because we are in the process of up-fitting it with law enforcement specific equipment (i.e. blue lights, siren, overt police markings)," Zachary Widgeon, VMRC's Director of Communications sent CBS 6 in an email statement.

That's a pretty sweet ride, but I'll bet they aren't paying full retail.

The response goes on to say: "This 2024 Pathfinder met the Statement of Need at a price that was reasonable in line with industry standards, superfluous features that do not affect its usage as a law enforcement patrol vessel are not relevant or considered in the purchasing process."

"This is wasteful for an agency with a budget about the size of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts," Cortez said.

That's not the only thing Cortez is concerned about.

There's also been a drop in VMRC-related arrests and subsequent convictions.

Between 2017 and 2018, there were 1,202 arrests and 988 convictions, according to Virginia Marine Police Arrests/Convictions data. Between 2021 and 2022, there were 667 arrests and 533 convictions. Based on the numbers, Cortez thinks that's far too few.

"Their conviction rate is 73 percent, which is dismal," Cortez said. "In wildlife law enforcement, marine law enforcement, it should be in the high 90s, because you're catching people in the act."

How many are illegal aliens who don't bother to show up in court?