DATE/TIME: September 26 & 27, 2024
INCIDENT: California Public Safety Diver Course
LOCATION: Between Interstate 40 and Topock Gorge on the Colorado River
SUMMARY: On Thursday, September 26 and Friday, September 27, 2024, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies at the Colorado River Stations Marine Enforcement Unit and Dive Rescue Team, hosted the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB), while they conducted dive exercises for class 2024, of the California P.O.S.T (Peace Officer's Standards & Training) Public Safety Diver (PSD) course.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles Port Police Department administer a public safety dive school for law enforcement agencies throughout the State of California. Dive students are trained at various locations in a wide variety of disciplines and technical capabilities. In this portion of their training, students were exposed to diving in fresh water with fluctuating current speeds, eddies, and vortex holes.
This class consisted of students from different agencies in California to include the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Los Angeles Port Police, and the Los Angeles Police Department. The 20 member class performed several dive exercises at various locations along the Colorado River, including the area of Park Moabi, Interstate 40 bridge and the Topock Gorge.
Due to the swift currents and changing underwater topography within the Colorado River, it provides a unique, and sometimes challenging, dive atmosphere that cannot be replicated within other regions of California. These irregular diving conditions further prepare California Public Safety Divers for a wide array of incidents and provides a unique dive atmosphere they may not encounter within their respective work areas. The members of the San Bernardino Sheriff Dive Rescue team along with other participating agency dive rescue teams are committed to being highly trained and adequately prepared to respond to calls for service on our California waterways.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department is dedicated to providing a safe boating atmosphere for the public and encourages everyone to boat sober and wear their life jackets. For more information regarding safe boating practices, visit California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways web site at www.dbw.ca.gov. For the latest press releases, news, and information, follow the Colorado River Station on Facebook @SBCSDColoradoRiverStation, Instagram @SBCSDColoradoRiverStation or on Twitter at @CORiverStation.
Refer: Deputy S. Cook
Station: Colorado River Station
Phone No. (760) 326-9200
Case No. N/A
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
