• Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

Navy SEALs stop using Washington state parks for training after residents voice fears and opposition

Navy SEALs

Navy SEALs during a training exercise. (U.S. Navy)

January 27, 2022
Law OfficerbyLaw Officer
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

WASHINGTON STATE – Navy SEALs have been forced to halt training at Washington state parks while a legal battle over their use winds its way through the court system.

The Navy has used Washington state coastal parks for over 30 years for SEAL cold water training and other special operations exercises. Leaders say the area offers the perfect environment to simulate what the special forces may encounter on difficult operations overseas, the New York Post reported.

However, lawyers for the Whidbey Environmental Action Network don’t seem to care about operational readiness.

“It is difficult to find peace in the woods when armed frogmen might be lurking behind every tree,” attorneys for the group argued in a legal brief last month, as they are the driving force behind the lawsuit against the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

Navy spokesman Joe Overton said the area uniquely facilitates SEAL training.

“This area provides a unique environment of cold water, extreme tidal changes, multi-variant currents, low visibility, complex underwater terrain, climate and rigorous land terrain, which provides an advanced training environment,” Overton told Coffee or Die Magazine.

Sadly, the Navy’s use of Washington shoreline has also come under fire from local residents who claim to be concerned about the physiological and environmental impact of SEALs training in the parks.

“I do not care to catch a glimpse of apparently armed men skulking around and I DEFINITELY do not want to risk having my young grandchildren see such a sight,” a resident wrote to state regulators when public comments were solicited during the state’s attempt to renew its agreement with the Navy.

Other residents expressed similar concerns, saying the area should be a place where people can relax.

“In these days of great division in our civil society, we don’t need stealthy men in camo uniforms toting toy guns around our State and County Parks,” another commenter said. “People frequent parks to escape tension, not to encounter more. Keep the Navy commando training out of our parks!”

With a barrage of complaints, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission voted 4-3 to scale back training that would limit where and what time SEALs could train, which prompted the lawsuit to block the use of state parks entirely, according to the Post.

The lawsuit claims the training will discourage residents from using the parks due to fears of “encountering the proposed war games or being spied upon by Navy personnel.”

The Navy says SEAL training has not interfered with visitors in the area, and notes there is no use of live-fire ammunition or explosive devices while training in the parks.

Nevertheless, that reassurance has not persuaded residents who say the Navy should use the 46 miles of Washington shoreline already under its control.

However, the Navy said the area under their jurisdiction does not offer as much realism during SEAL training.

“Although there are several Navy properties in the area, they do not provide the full range of environments needed for this training to be as realistic as possible,” Overton said.


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Tags: Joe OvertonNavy SEALSWashington StateWhidbey Environmental Action Network
Law Officer

Law Officer

Law Officer is the only major law enforcement publication and website owned and operated by law enforcement—for law enforcement and supporters of justice, law, and order. This unique facet makes Law Officer much more than just a publishing company, but a true advocate for the law enforcement profession.

Related Posts

Henry Hauser

Repeat sex offender kidnapped woman, kept her in garage for weeks while ‘acting out fantasy,’ prosecutor says

October 3, 2023
cop haters pummel

Cop-Haters Pummel Good Officer for One-Sided Recording of Out-of-Context Comments

September 26, 2023
Seattle begins hiring

Seattle begins hiring unarmed ‘alternate response teams’ to handle certain 911 calls related to mental health

August 24, 2023
Jamie Haske

Washington mother-son duo serving together in law enforcement

August 18, 2023
homeless encampment

‘Progressive’ Seattle-area city forced to reroute 4th of July parade due to homeless encampment

July 4, 2023
Army soldier James M Kelly

Army soldier accused of killing 2, wounding 3 at music festival in Washington

June 21, 2023
Load More

Latest Articles

homeless intruder

Homeless intruder fatally shoots Los Angeles homeowner

November 29, 2023
Josh Giddey

NBA player under investigation after 15-year-old girl claims they had sex

November 29, 2023
forbidden guest

New Jersey police find forbidden guest inside college dormitory

November 29, 2023
Bill Morhman

Derek Chauvin’s attorney comments on ‘troubling’ lack of communication from prison

November 29, 2023
Nova Riley

Service dog in training found by hikers after missing nearly two months

November 28, 2023
Nashville Police Officers

Nashville police officers who intervened during school massacre honored at Patriot Awards

November 28, 2023
Load More

Weekly E-Newsletter

Subscribe—and get the latest news and editorials direct from Law Officer each week!

[newsletter_form type="minimal"]

JOIN THE FIGHT

BE COURAGEOUS

POPULAR GEAR

Tactical Pants

Tactical Boots

 

FIND MORE…

Law Officer

© 2021 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2021 LawOfficer.com