Corporal Elizabeth Ratliff named 2006 National Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year

Corporal Elizabeth Ratliff worked for the Missouri State Water Patrol for 10 years. She was assigned to Lake of the Ozarks, and then transferred to Table Rock Lake in southwestern Missouri, working one of the busiest areas on the lake.

During 2005's Memorial Day weekend, Corporal Ratliff was the primary investigator in a fatal boating accident. Her investigation resulted in manslaughter and boating assault charges against the boat operator. Corporal Ratliff's assistance at the scene and the personal support she has provided to the victims and their families was crucial to their closure in the wake of the tragedy.

In addition to her enforcement duties, Corporal Ratliff served as the public information and education officer for her district, a 15-county area of southwest Missouri. She established herself as the primary liaison with various regional media, and her experience and personal skills were evident in her communications with them. Corporal Ratliff also conducted many of the voluntary boating courses in that region as well as numerous boating and water safety programs in local schools. In addition, she coordinated a successful cooperative program on Table Rock Lake that rewarded children for wearing their life jackets.

Corporal Ratliff recently left her position with the Missouri Water Patrol and now works with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Texas.

The Award
The Boating Law Enforcement Award was implemented in 2000 through the efforts of NASBLA's Law Enforcement Committee to recognize and honor outstanding service to recreational boating. Co-sponsored by ACR Electronics, Inc., the award symbolizes the highest level of achievement among boating law enforcement officers in the United States.