The Galveston Island Beach Patrol (GIBP) is certified as an “advanced” level agency of the United States Lifesaving Association and is the designated lifeguard service for the City of Galveston.
GIBP is a Texas Emergency Medical Services First Responder Organization certified by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
GIBP employs over 100 people comprised of lifeguards, senior guards, supervisors, peace officers, and dispatchers. The mission of GIBP is to protect the 7-8 million people who visit the Galveston beaches each year, respond to aquatic emergencies 24/7/365, educate the public about beach safety, provide water safety talks at schools, and be a good community partner.
Each of our twelve rescue trucks is staffed by at least one person who, at a minimum, is an open water lifeguard and an emergency medical technician. The vehicles are equipped to respond to water emergencies, provide basic life support, and aid stranded motorists. The Beach Patrol fleet also includes a variety of water rescue craft, ATVs, and a multi-purpose vehicle. 24 lifeguard towers are staffed by lifeguards who meet and exceed the qualifications established by the United States Lifesaving Association.
The Beach Patrol’s jurisdiction includes the Gulf facing beaches from East Beach to the San Luis Pass and up to 2 miles offshore with emergency response capability to the waters adjacent to the entire island. Our primary responsibility is the safety of swimmers from East Beach Park to 61st Street during the beach season.
Galveston’s beaches are challenging to guard. Heavy crowds, rip current generating jetties, and constantly changing conditions keep guards very busy. Fortunately, the Galveston Park Board and the greater Galveston community have leveraged a combination of hotel tax dollars and beach user fees to fund one of the most proactive and respected lifeguarding agencies in the country.
All of us here at GIBP thank you for your support!
Tony Pryor is the Captain and Operations Supervisor of Galveston Island Beach Patrol. His first year on Beach Patrol was 1998. Tony serves as Certification Committee Chair of the United States Lifesaving Association, as well as Head Coach of the Galveston Island Swim Team. He holds a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Houston.
Tony is an instructor for USLA and Red Cross open water lifeguarding, Red Cross Emergency Medical Response and Personal Watercraft Rescue. He is an Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency Vehicle Operator, Swift Water Technician, Basic Open Water SCUBA Diver, and is certified in the NIMS 100, 200, 700, and 800 levels.
Austin Kirwin is the Sergeant for Galveston Island Beach Patrol. He started working for Beach Patrol in 2006 and was a junior guard for 6 years before. Austin is also in the Texas Air National Guard based at Ellington Field.
Austin is an instructor for USLA open water lifeguarding, Red Cross Emergency Medical Responder, and personal watercraft rescue. He is a Texas Peace Officer, Marine Safety Enforcement Officer, Emergency Medical Technician, Swift Water Technician, Emergency Vehicle Operator, Basic Open Water SCUBA Diver, and is certified in the NIMS 100, 200, 700, and 800 levels.
Dain Buck is a Supervisor for Galveston Island Beach Patrol. He started working for Beach Patrol in 2010. He attended Texas A&M Galveston and then Texas A&M College Station to earn his B.S. in Business Marketing.
Dain is an instructor for USLA open water lifeguarding, Red Cross Emergency Medical Responder, Swift Water Technician and personal watercraft rescue. He is a Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency Vehicle Operator, Basic Open Water SCUBA Diver, and is certified in the NIMS 100, 200, 700, and 800 levels.
In Dain’s free time he enjoys traveling and the outdoors. Growing up, Dain moved around the whole country and even out of it but finally settled down in Galveston to call it home. Mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, and paddling are all hobbies he is active in. Dain hopes one day to circumnavigate the entire island on a surfski.
Dain currently has lived on the island for 7 years and can be seen spending most of his time at the beach and in the ocean on or off the clock. He continues to strive and push his further education and training with the Galveston Island Beach Patrol. He loves the fact that his office is outside and in the community and the cooperation that Beach Patrol as an agency shares with Galveston Fire, Police, EMS, and all other response agencies on the island that make it a safe and great place to live.
Micah Fowler is a full-time supervisor for Galveston Island Beach Patrol. He started working for GIBP as a rookie in 2011. He has a B.S. in art and design from the Art Institute of California.
Micah is certified as a Red Cross open-water lifeguard, Emergency Medical Technician, Swift Water Technician, American Heart Association Basic Life Support, Red Cross Emergency Medical Response and Personal Watercraft Rescue.
Hobbies include rock climbing and bouldering, swimming, drawing and painting, various analog, digital gaming and observing Galveston Island’s glorious dawns and dusks. Micah also studies Aikido and hopes to one day open a school on the island.
He currently lives in Galveston with his dog and cat, in his family’s 1890 historic home. He plans to continue renovating the property to be historically accurate.
Micah decided to join GIBP after a recommendation from his brother. After six seasons, he realized how much he loved working in the beach environment, and keeping swimmers and tourists safe and informed.
