Newtown Police Officer Felicia Figol was honored by the Lake Zoar Authority (LZA) for her dedication to staffing lake patrols in 2022. The authority, at its November 8 meeting, issued Figol a plaque in honor of her service.

Figol staffed 31 of the 32 patrols by the Newtown Police Department on Lake Zoar from May to November.

Marine Patrol Coordinator Dan Semosky said during the presentation that over the months of patrols, Figol issued 102 written and verbal warnings, and 17 infractions to boaters and personal watercraft operators.

"It's the most I've seen since 2008," said Semosky. "These aren't something you pass out like candy; you have to do something pretty bad."

Semosky said Figol was important in a number of different efforts on the lake, such as getting all boaters wearing lifejackets, cracking down on out-of-town personal watercraft owners, and locating boat operators who did not have their current safe boating certificates - the equivalent of a driver's license for watercraft.

Figol also helped with two spots checks at a Southbury boat launch with officers from Monroe and Newtown.

"We stopped a lot of boats from illegally coming out on the lake, and that's saving lives," said Semosky. "This is all about the safety of the people on the boats and using Lake Zoar."

Semosky said that after an early accident in May, patrols cracked down and there was "not much" after.

"We handled things pretty good and a big reason for that is Felicia," said Semosky.

LZA member Gary Fillion said that he was "happy to endorse" honoring Figol and "happy to present" a plaque to her.

Newtown Police Chief David Kullgren said that he served 17 years with the Coast Guard, and with boating safety, "education is paramount no matter what size the water."

Kullgren said he was pushing to add more officers to the patrols to help fill state mandates.

Fillion said that officers are needed on the lake, especially since Southbury "is not sending officers at all" which has forced patrols to rely on only three towns - Newtown, Monroe, and Oxford. Fillion said having officers "sets a precedent" that boaters "know we're out there."

Figol said she appreciated the honor and she really enjoyed her patrols of Lake Zoar. She said her next step is figuring out how to get her K-9 unit, Aris, out on one of the boats.

"It's important to be out there," said Figol.

Associate Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.