<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0ZZmNk_0vHzPoDj00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0ZZmNk_0vHzPoDj00" width="650" height="433" ><figcaption>Manistee County Sheriff's Office marine patrol deputy, Aaron Rybicki is shown aboard the sheriff's office's new Safe boat on Aug. 21, 2024. (Arielle Breen/News Advocate) </figcaption></figure> A recent trip aboard the <a href="https://www.manisteenews.com/news/article/364-799-lake-michigan-boat-added-sheriff-s-19667085.php" rel="nofollow"> Manistee County Sheriff’s Office’s new Lake Michigan boat </a> presented the perfect chance to include a deputy in our “7 Questions with …” series. We met Aaron&nbsp;Rybicki and asked all about his job and who he is outside of work. NEWS ADVOCATE: What are your positions at the sheriff's office? RYBICKI: Marina patrol deputy, snowmobile patrol deputy. MNA: What are your responsibilities and your role with the sheriff’s office? RYBICKI: (I’m) primarily marine patrol; in the wintertime I do snowmobile patrol, so I oversee both of those. But we’ve been&nbsp;short-staffed for quite a while now. We’re getting our numbers up now, which is great. But I’ve worked the road here and there. Say if a couple people are on vacation and we have a void in the schedule, they’ll stick me on the road for a 12-hour shift, so whatever they need me to do. And then let’s say if there’s someone (who needs me to) sit with them at the hospital, like a mental petition (patient) or something like that, I’d sit there or (take them) for the transport. There’s just a whole bunch of (types of tasks). <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1IAH5o_0vHzPoDj00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1IAH5o_0vHzPoDj00" width="650" height="433" ><figcaption>Aaron&nbsp;Rybicki, Manistee County Sheriff's Office marine patrol deputy, stands aboard the Safe boat that the sheriff's office recently purchased. (Arielle Breen/News Advocate) </figcaption></figure> MNA: How long is the marine patrol season? RYBICKI: We’re partially funded through a state DNR (Department of Natural Resources) grant and they recognize the marine season from April to the end of October. MNA: How did you get into the marine patrol position? RYBICKI: I did part time marine in 2017, 2018 — that’s kind of what got me through the door for enforcement at the sheriff’s office and I kind of started in the jail, did that for about nine months. I really just wanted to be on the road for road patrol. But then there was an opening for the marine spot. And the guy who was doing it before me — Mike Sekuris, he got sergeant and I figured I’d try for it and I was the only one that applied and I ended up getting it. I really do love boat patrol, with this new equipment and everything else — I don’t want to be anywhere else. This is a great job. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1i3PEr_0vHzPoDj00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1i3PEr_0vHzPoDj00" width="650" height="433" ><figcaption>Aaron&nbsp;Rybicki (Arielle Breen/News Advocate) </figcaption></figure> MNA: What skills do you need to do this job? RYBICKI: Obviously (I’m) operating different types of vessels. We have this ( <a href="https://www.manisteenews.com/news/article/364-799-lake-michigan-boat-added-sheriff-s-19667085.php" rel="nofollow"> Safe boat for Lake Michigan) now </a> . We have a river boat, which is a completely different animal. Rivers have quite a bit of current if it’s on the Big&nbsp;Manistee River and it operates completely differently. It’s a jet drive. In addition to that, we have an inland lake boat that’s a Triumph, and <a href="https://www.manisteenews.com/news/article/manistee-county-sheriff-s-office-acquires-airboat-18709419.php" rel="nofollow"> we also have the airboat now </a> which is a totally different thing. In addition to operating vessels, (I need to be) able to talk to people, making contacts with people and just basic knowledge of basic marine law (is needed). Search and rescue tactics (is another needed skill). Before in the past, we’ve actually thrown a dummy in&nbsp;Canfield Lake. I told somebody to throw it in on the north half and then we went out there, brought the dive team with us and we did a sidescan and we actually located the dummy about 15 (feet down). It took about 45 minutes because we had the north half of the lake to search (during the training). There’s really a lot that goes into it. MNA: What inspires you to show up every day? RYBICKI: I just love what I do. I like the people I work with a lot, I love coming out here and talking to people, making positive contacts, educating people. That’s just the best for me. You never know what’s going to happen. That’s another thing that keeps me going. I couldn’t have like an office job in a cubicle where you do the same paperwork everyday. Showing up to work and you have no idea what you’re walking into, I actually like that. MNA: What do you do when you’re off the clock? RYBICKI: I spend a lot of time with my girlfriend; her name’s Angela. We like looking for beach glass, love looking for glass and all that stuff. If I’m by myself, I like playing guitar — acoustic and electric. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3dntYh_0vHzPoDj00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3dntYh_0vHzPoDj00" width="650" height="433" ><figcaption>Aaron&nbsp;Rybicki, Manistee County Sheriff's Office marine patrol deputy stands&nbsp;aboard the sheriff's office's new Safe boat on Aug. 21, 2024. (Arielle Breen/News Advocate) </figcaption></figure></div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

7 questions with ... Aaron Rybicki

\"I like the people I work with a lot, I love coming out here and talking to people, making positive contacts, educating people. That’s just the best for me.\"

"I like the people I work with a lot, I love coming out here and talking to people, making positive contacts, educating people. That’s just the best for me."