A love for all things aquatic has brought him to being waterfront director

SPARTA — Two years ago, Rich Carlson retired from the Leonia police department. Along with his role as a police officer, he was dedicated to a variety of aquatic endeavors which brought him to his current job as waterfront director for the Lake Mohawk Country Club (LMCC). Carlson resides in the Alpine section of Lake Mohawk and is happy to be working in his backyard

For the past 14 years, he has been on marine patrol for Lake Mohawk as well as training and organizing the summer lifeguards. In the winter, Carlson coaches the Pope John high school swim team. Coming from a swimming family, it was only natural for him to wind up on the water.

“All of my brothers and sisters were competitive swimmers and lifeguards. My mom taught us how to swim and ski,” said Carlson. “I didn’t want to eat, drink and sleep police work. The love for the water kept me mentally healthy.”

With 47 lifeguard positions available, operations for Lake Mohawk start the first of May with testing and recertifications. The Red Cross includes training for first aid, CPR and the defibrillator. Carlson oversees this staff at the 11 beaches and the marine patrol on the lake itself. He and his team also help out with the ski hawks, the boat show and the fireworks display and buoy placement.

“The marine patrol is a seven day a week operation. We work closely with the Sparta police and the New Jersey state police. There is always at least one patrol out there at all times. We enforce all safety violations. People are extremely cooperative,” he said.

Carlson wants boaters on Lake Mohawk to know that there is a special telephone number available for use for the marine patrol on duty: 973-440-8767. The service started last year when over 60 calls were fielded.

“It’s for non-emergency use. For tows, if you are out of gas or you have a complaint or a question. If we miss the call because the phone is hard to hear on the boat, there is a back-up and follow-up text”

The minimum age to acquire a boating license is 16. For everyone a boating safety certificate is required in addition to a driver’s license. The US coast Guard Auxiliary in Lake Hopatcong offers an eight-hour course for boating safety certification.

This year, the beaches got a new addition with custom-made lifeguard chairs by the Woodworks Shop of Willowglen Academy in Sparta. With the Willowglen clients making the chairs, a unique opportunity was made available to LMCC with the chairs being designed especially for the needs of Lake Mohawk

“It’s a great deal and a win-win for both LMCC and Willowglen. We would like our members to support Willowglen by visiting their workshop at 8 Wilson Drive in Sparta,” said Carlson.

After 33 years on the police force, Carlson is leading a very different life: “I thought I was going to miss it, but I don’t. I am not just an employee but a member too, and I feel like I am not even going to work-they pay me to swim. I always feel like I have to give back to the community. I have the time to do this, I had a productive career.”