Making waves: How the Memphis police harbor patrol keeps the city’s western border safe
MPD Harbor Patrol officer James Schmedes keeps his eye out while patrolling near the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi Rivers June 17, 2026. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)
Where the pavement ends on Memphis’ western edge, a police Harbor Patrol Unit navigates the unpredictable Mississippi River as the city’s last line of defense.
Operating out of a highly specialized fleet, the Memphis Police Department unit covers roughly 50 river miles from Greenbelt Park south to the Mississippi state line, along portions of the Wolf and Loosahatchie rivers.
For officers and partners James Schmedes and James Walton, navigating these waters requires far more than basic patrol experience.
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Brandon LaGrone II
Brandon LaGrone Jr. is a Bluff City native who has earned an undergraduate degree in journalism from LSU’s Manship School. He’s written for publications including The (Baton Rouge) Advocate and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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