Police Chief Kirk W. Blouin presenting the Officer of the Year Award to
Officer Thomas Machate.  Looking on is Jupiter Police Chief Frank J.
Kitzerow, newly installed President of the Palm Beach County
Association of Chiefs of Police

 PALM BEACH COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE NAMES
 OFFICER THOMAS MACHATE – 2009 POLICE OFFICER OF THE YEAR

The Palm Beach County Association of Chiefs of Police named Palm Beach Police Marine Officer Thomas Machate 2009 Police Officer of the Year.  The awards ceremony took place on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at the Abacoa Golf Club.

Police Chief Kirk W. Blouin nominated Officer Machate for his outstanding law enforcement skills that lead to the seizure of 92 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of over $2.3 million dollars and for his rescue of a female kayaker.  According to Chief Blouin, Officer Machate has a natural instinct for cultivating informants and the information he acquires is invaluable. As a Marine Patrol Officer, his initiative and productivity are outstanding. Machate is responsible for a wide variety of marine enforcement and in the past year he self-initiated over 220 vessel stops and arrested 21 individuals. 

In his nomination, Chief Blouin noted –

Seizure of 92 Kilograms of Cocaine ……

On the evening of January 11^th, 2009, a confidential informant contacted Officer Thomas Machate and provided detailed information regarding a vessel that was traveling from the Bahamas via the Palm Beach Inlet.  The informant stated that an urgent request was made to have a vessel towed from West Palm Beach to Delray Beach.  Based on additional facts provided, it was determined that this intelligence may be consistent with a narcotics smuggling operation. 

Officer Machate and members of the Organized Crime Vice and Narcotics Unit strategically positioned the police vessel next to a barge to conceal the police insignias and patiently waited for the suspect boat to enter the Inlet. Once the suspect vessel arrived, a vessel stop was initiated for a safety and registration check.  The boat captain provided paperwork for a Bahamian registration; however, it was realized that the boat had FL numbers indicating that the vessel was documented in the United States.  A K-9 was requested to assist with a consent search.  The K-9 indicated a positive “hit” behind the refrigerator in the cabin.  A thorough search revealed 88 packages of Cocaine with a total weight of 92 kilograms.  The boat captain and his first mate, both Bahamian Nationals, were arrested. 

Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement (ICE) were notified and joined the investigation that lead to the seizure of a substantial amount of cash, assets, and the arrest of five individuals for Conspiracy to Import Cocaine into the United States. 

Officer Machate’s initiative, instinct, diligent performance and a cohesive team effort lead to the seizure of 92 Kilograms of Cocaine with a street value of over $2.3 million.  This drug seizure was the largest of the year and it helped to dismantle a prolific criminal enterprise.  Based on the arrests and intelligence obtained from this case, there is a pending federal indictment for the alleged “ring leader” of this operation.    

Intra Coastal Waterway Rescue…..

On June 6^th, 2009, Officer Machate, and a member of the Marine Unit, rescued Carol Mac Kenzie who was kayaking in the Intra Coastal waterway.  The water current was fast with a heavy chop and there was a 15 mph wind coming out of the south; opposite her destination.  A storm was also approaching at a rapid rate.  Regardless of how hard Mac Kenzie was paddling, she was not making any progress and the situation was becoming traumatic for her.  According to Mac Kenzie, this was “definitely not a good scenario.”

Officer Machate responded to the dispatched call of a kayaker (Mac Kenzie) in distress.  Once on scene, he maneuvered the police vessel right next to Mac Kenzie’s kayak and she was rescued onto the boat and a quick health assessment was completed.  Other than Mac Kenzie being extremely exhausted, she was healthy and grateful.  Mac Kenzie was impressed with Officer Machate’s calm and compassionate demeanor and his genuine concern for her well-being. 

Officer Machate’s swift, courageous action, and skillful team communication resulted in the life saving of a female kayaker from the Intra Coastal waterway during hazardous weather conditions. 

Officer Thomas Machate is a credit to the Palm Beach Police Department, to the Town of Palm Beach, and to the law enforcement profession.