Coast Guard Officer Relieved In Montauk

Newsday.com has the story on why this photograph is making headlines.

The Montauk docks were abuzz with disbelief and disappointment Saturday over the removal of their top Coast Guard officer, stripped of his duties after he and a subordinate took a pair of rescue boats on training exercises for which they were not certified.

And one photographer who created dramatic shots of those exercises in heavy surf after Hurricane Bill passed Long Island in August says he’s despondent to think he might have made it look more dangerous than it was.

Chief Petty Officer James Weber, a well-liked, 21-year Coast Guard veteran, has been reassigned from the Montauk Station to the Guard’s New Haven office. He will lose his command permanently unless he prevails in an appeal. A Guard spokeswoman said Saturday Weber has not decided whether to appeal. He could not be reached for comment. Senior Coast Guard officials said Friday he had violated procedures vital to crew safety. Read More at Newsday.com

The photographer Thomas Colla took the photos on the morning of August 23rd and posted them to his website – tcolla.com.  Following news of the officers loss of command, Colla wrote on his facebook “Really sorry if my photos had anything to do with this . . . Not feeling good at all about this:”

The images are strikingly similar to a some photos (below) of a training excersize held in Morro Bay, CA, right near gCaptain Headquarters.

Updated: February 5, 2026 (Originally published October 26, 2009)

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