You probably haven't heard much about the Milwaukee Police Department's Harbor Patrol. But that just means they're doing a good job.

In fact, the team of three boats and 12 officers, led by Sgt. Don "Boots" Jensen, is literally the first line of defense on Milwaukee's lakefront -- a jurisdiction that extends a surprising 48 miles east of the coast. And while they perform the duties you might expect -- stopping drunken boaters, performing search and rescue operations -- they also play an important role in the Department of Homeland Security's plan to keep the city safe from much bigger threats.

The protection of Milwaukee's shoreline is layered and overlapping these days -- and that's a good thing. Along with the police, the Coast Guard and the Department of Natural Resources play a part. But Jensen's officers are the best of the best out there -- and they need to be, because backup is sometimes 20 minutes away.

"It's just you, the water and the boat," says Jensen, a 25-year veteran of the force. "The best weapon is your brain."

On the day we go out for a routine patrol, we're sailing in a 30-foot workboat. Sturdy, heavy and relatively wide, it's not the fastest ship in their small fleet (they also have a 21-ft. RIB, or rigid inflatable boat they acquired and rebuilt from the Navy.) The department does most of its own repairs and practically strips its ships down the nuts and bolts each year for a comprehensive overhaul.

Alongside Jensen is Dan Bell, an officer with one year of Harbor Patrol experience and 15 years on the force. Piloting the boat is Dave Feldmeier, a 12-year veteran who's been on the unit for eight years. According to Jensen, Feldmeier is one of the best coxswains you'll ever find. Bell has extensive dive experience -- though each of the officers is trained for anything he might encounter on the water.

"The selection process includes a physical agility test," says Jensen. "You need to be able to swim, think, react, have instincts and be coolheaded." Last year, he says 20 men applied for the unit. Two were chosen.

We ease out from the slip at McKinley Marina and head south toward the breakwater. On the way, we pass the 68-ft. mega yacht that belongs to Minnesota Timberwolves guard and River Hills resident Latrell Sprewell. Jensen's team recently spent several hours helping the boat get unstuck when Spree ran it aground outside Atwater Park in Shorewood.

"It wasn't his fault," says Jensen, explaining that Sprewell is actually a careful and competent boater. And even though Atwater is technically in Shorewood, MPD still responds to calls outside its jurisdiction. Basically, they go where they're needed most.

A routine patrol for the unit involves observing the several critical systems around Milwaukee -- water intake spots, Jones Island, the industrial infrastructures near the Hoan Bridge -- all the places that could be potential targets for terrorists.

The lake is divided into three zones, explains Jensen: the inner harbor, the outer harbor and the open water of Lake Michigan. Once we pass the no-wake zone, Feldmeier opens the throttle; the ship lurches forward, and we head northeast.

In just a few minutes, we're idling about a mile east of the intake station on Lincoln Memorial Drive, in what looks like a nondescript area of open water. But in reality, we're about 18 ft. above a water intake crib. Anyone with a map can find it, but it's certainly not marked. It's one of the spots that provides Milwaukee with drinking water -- and naturally, it's a target for those who would like to inflict harm.

The three officers visually inspect the area for anything suspicious: bubbles to indicate a diver or a filmy residue on the surface. And what if they see bubbles? "We wait for him to come up," Jensen says with a smile. They use the boat's sophisticated radar and depth finding equipment, too, giving the area an electronic sweep -- nothing looks out of order.

The intake cribs are on the checklist the team carries with them. That's just one of the differences in their job, says Bell, since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

"There are a lot of targets," says Feldmeier. "The job has always been important. Now we just split our responsibility."

The boat powers up again and heads south toward the Summerfest grounds. We slow down next to the new Discovery World, and Jensen points out the new museum with pride. You can tell he's enthusiastic and passionate about Milwaukee, and he sees the city from every day from an angle few can appreciate. More people need to be highlighting the positive stories in our city, he says.

Jensen puts his money where his mouth is.

After the emotional experience of conducting the recovery efforts for Quadrevion Henning and Purvis Virginia Parker last spring, Jensen felt a strong urge to personally make a difference. He led the charge to partner with the Boys and Girls Clubs to develop an inner city swimming program, which has already taught more than 200 kids hows to swim. He's also a boating instructor and helps people learn water safety.

"You've got to give back to the community," says Jensen. "And you can give back more than money."

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