Boaters of the Black Warrior River and the Tenn.-Tom Waterway in Demopolis will soon notice a new face on patrol.

Thomas Bobo, a Guntersville native and former Albertville firefighter and EMT, has been hired as an Alabama Marine Policeman and will be stationed in Marengo County.

Bobo is currently undergoing an eight-week training session at Wind Creek in Alexander City. Once the course is complete, he will spend 13 weeks with a veteran officer before hitting the waters on patrol.

“The trainer will actually come here for a while and then I will travel to his body of water,” Bobo said, adding he expected to be on the water full-time by this summer.

Bobo said he and his wife have already made the trip to Demopolis and are scouting for a home in anticipation of their arrival.

“Being on the water is just something I’ve always enjoyed,” he said. “We’re excited about moving to Demopolis and getting on the water.”

Bobo was one of five new hires who are currently enrolled in the recruit school.

During their initial training marine police recruits will be introduced to a variety of topics including, policies and procedures, state criminal laws, boating and wildlife laws, firearms, defensive tactics, boating accident investigation, patrol boat operations, boating under the influence detection and arrest procedures, boat theft, marine sanitation, device inspections, water safety, media relations and educational duties.