On Monday, January 12, 2026, at approximately 3:49 p.m., the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Pool 13 of the Mississippi River to a report of a boat in distress. While enroute to the scene, deputies received information the boat, occupied by three adult males and a dog, was floating down the river with a disabled engine.
Deputies and fire personnel arrived on scene and deployed a shallow-water rescue boat and drone, in attempts to locate the distressed boaters. The drone deployment allowed law enforcement to locate the boaters and ensure their well-being, until which time the rescue boat arrived. The disabled boat was located and found to be surrounded by ice, making the rescue time consuming and challenging. The rescue boat was able to connect a tow strap to the disabled boat and towed the boat and the occupants back to the boat launch at Bulger’s Hollow. The occupants were found uninured and safely returned to land.
The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Andover Fire Department, Camanche Fire Department, Clinton County Conservation and Thomson (IL.) Fire Department.
Sheriff Bill Greenwalt
Clinton County Sheriff’s Office
