ON MAY 28, 2023 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:28 PM, I, INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER 1, AND INDIANA CONSERVATION 2, RECEIVED A CALLED ABOUT A SINKING BOAT ON JIMMERSON LAKE IN STEUBEN COUNTY. STEUBEN COUNTY DISPATCH ADVISED THAT THE BOAT OPERATOR WAS OUT OF THE WATER BUT THE BOAT HAD SANK.               
ICO 2 AND I ARRIVED MOMENTS LATER AND OBSERVED THE OPERATOR OF THE SUNKEN BOAT SAFELY ON ANOTHER PWC. ONCE WE ARRIVED, I NOTICED A MAN SITTING ON THE BACK OF THE PWC WITH A RED HELMET THAT WAS WET AND SHAKING. WE ASK THE MAN IF HE WAS OKAY AND  IF HE NEEDED ANY MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MAN, IDENTIFIED AS OPERATOR, ADVISED THAT HE WAS OKAY AND DID NOT NEED ANY MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE OPERATOR OF THE PWC THAT HAD HELPED OPERATOR OUT OF THE WATER, STATED THAT THE PWC HAD ALREADY SUNK TO THE BOTTOM AND THAT WAS CLOSE TO THE SHORE. OPERATOR STATED THAT IT WAS HIS NEW PWC THAT HAD SUNK. WE THEN ASKED WHERE IT WAS LOCATED AND HOW FAR OFF SHORE THE PWC WAS. OPERATOR STATED THAT IT WAS INSIDE THE SWIMMING BUOYS, BETWEEN THE BUOYS AND THE SWIM PLATFORM. WE APPROACHED THE VESSEL AND HELP OPERATOR ONTO OUR PATROL BOAT. WHEN OPERATOR WAS SITTING ON OUR BOAT, WE ASKED HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED. OPERATOR EXPLAINED THAT HIS BATTERY HAD DIED WHICH MADE HIS BILGE PUMP STOP WORKING. HE THEN BEGAN TAKING ON WATER CAUSING THE VESSEL TO SINK.   
WE THEN TRANSPORTED OPERATOR TO CORNER LANDING WHERE HIS VEHICLE WAS LOCATED. ONCE AT THE CORNER LANDING, I THEN WENT WITH OPERATOR TO HIS VEHICLE TO RETRIEVE HIS DRIVER'S LICENSE AND BOAT REGISTRATION. I THEN PROVIDED OPERATOR WITH THE CASE REPORT NUMBER AND ADVISED HIM THAT WE WOULD BE IN CONTACT WITH HIM TO GET HIS BOAT OUT OF THE WATER.    
Jimmerson Lake
Fremont                       