RIBCraft Delivers Boat to Decatur Police Department
RIBCraft, manufacturer of professional grade rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) for safety professionals, law enforcement, and military agencies, announced the delivery of a specialized RIBCraft 7.8 for patrol and enforcement operations to the City of Decatur, Alabama.

Photo: RIBCraft
RIBCraft, manufacturer of professional grade rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) for safety professionals, law enforcement, and military agencies, announced the delivery of a specialized RIBCraft 7.8 for patrol and enforcement operations to the City of Decatur, Alabama.
The 25-foot purpose-built mission specific RIB will be used by the Decatur Police Department for tactical operations and on water patrols. Located on the Tennessee River with several chemical companies on the shoreline, the new RIB will enable Decatur Police to fulfill technical rescue and hazardous materials mitigation. With a growing number of recreational boating activities and special events on the River, the boat will complete search and rescue and boat assistance duties as well.
Featuring a center console with a front bench seat, leaning post, custom aft seating, and tow post, the 7.8 provides a large open deck to offer the versatility needed to support the Department's operational requirements. Equipped with twin Yamaha 150HP engines, the RIB reaches speeds in excess of 50mph while still providing safety and performance.
Decatur's 7.8 also features CBRN capabilities (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) for an advanced defense strategy. The CBRN detection sensor allows the department to take protective measures in situations where any of these four hazards are present. CBRN defense consists of passive protection, contamination avoidance, and CBRN mitigation. This could prove to be advantageous due to the industrial giants and chemical companies located nearby along the Tennessee River.
Designed to be extremely durable, stable, and reliable, RIBCraft rescue boats, with their heavy-duty inflatable tubes, are an excellent platform for search and rescue, law enforcement, and maritime interdiction.
RIBCraft designs and builds safe, durable, performance oriented rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) that fulfill the most demanding military, professional and recreational applications. A manufacturer of professional grade RIBs and inflatables for safety professionals, military agencies, yacht clubs, and recreational boaters throughout the world, RIBCraft offers vessels starting at 15 feet, capable of fulfilling most any mission. www.ribcraftusa.com
More Vehicle Ops

Tenhold Introduces Suppressor Gun Rack System
Tenhold, formerly Jotto Desk, provides next-generation vehicle systems for law enforcement and public safety and recently debuted its Suppressor Lock Head for its Weapon Mounting system.
Read More →
Ram Debuts Pursuit-Capable 2500 Emergency Response Vehicle
The 2027 Ram 2500 Emergency Response Vehicle is the first and only ¾-ton truck to complete the Michigan State Police vehicle trials, and Ram said it delivered outstanding performance in testing scenarios designed to replicate extreme real-world duty.
Read More →
How Smart Fleet Technology Is Transforming Police Operations
Police agencies are leveraging fleet data to reduce collisions, improve officer safety, control maintenance costs, and strengthen public accountability. This ebook explores how modern telematics and fleet management technology are helping departments operate more efficiently while maximizing taxpayer resources.
Read More →
Emergency Vehicle Upfitter LEHR Opens New Facility in New Jersey
LEHR’s new centralized upfitting facility in New Jersey consolidates operations to deliver faster turnaround times and enhanced fleet capacity for law enforcement agencies across the Northeast.
Read More →
North Carolina Sheriff’s Office Improves Fueling Reliability & Operational Control
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office overcame fuel management and accounting challenges by turning to RoadFlex to improve fueling reliability, visibility, and administrative control.
Read More →
Emergency Vehicle Upfitter LEHR Expands National Footprint with New 40,000-Square-Foot Facility in Houston
LEHR has opened a 40,000-square-foot Defender Supply upfitting facility in Houston, Texas. It is expected to upfit thousands of public safety vehicles each year.
Read More →How to Pick Your High-Risk Stop Location for Tactical Advantage
Hear veteran trainer Mike Willis, of the United States Deputy Sheriff’s Association, explain several considerations that can help you wisely pick your best spot to initiate high-risk or felony traffic stops.
Read More →Coffee Break with Police Experts: Using Your Patrol Vehicle for Cover
In this video, hear from Dustin Mowery, a product specialist at Team Wendy, as he discusses how to best use a patrol vehicle for cover.
Read More →
Ford Celebrates 75 Years of Making Patrol Vehicles
From 1950 to 2025, Ford has produced many of America’s most iconic law enforcement cars, SUVs, and trucks. POLICE Magazine takes you through the history of Ford’s police vehicles.
Read More →
Using Patrol Vehicles for Cover
While a patrol vehicle offers some cover protection when taking fire, remain mobile and don’t stick to one piece of cover indefinitely. Dustin Mowery, of Team Wendy, shares what he teaches about using vehicles as cover.
Read More →