RedactedNarrative: On monday 5/3/22 i was working marine and trail enforcement for the dane county sheriff's office on lake mendota. I was dispatched to a blue and black pontoon in distress approximately 1/2 a mile outside 3ft bay. I responded and observed a single occupant on the pontoon not wearing a pfd. 
  
  The pontoon had an anchor line out and was missing its engine. I instructed the occupant to retrieve any valuables and put on a pfd. Due to the extreme lake conditions (20mph winds and 5ft waves) it was decided to leave the pontoon anchored until better weather and to retrieve the occupant. 
  
  My partner and i safely transferred the single occupant to our boat. I asked operator if he was alright and if he needed medical attention. Operator refused ems. I asked operator what happened. 
  
  Operator stated he had left home and was headed to the memorial union to pick up friends. Operator stated he was going approximately 20 mph when the bow of the boat crashed into a large wave, took on some water, and alarms began to sound. 
  
  Operator stated he immediately turned off the engine and noticed it no longer attached to the boat and hanging off the back of the boat partially submerged. I asked operator what kind of engine it was. He stated it was what ever came with the boat worth about $30,000. I transported operator to his residence/pier. I advised operator that in addition to my report he needed to go to the dnr web site and complete a self report
  