NCJ Number
55717
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 47 Issue: 6 Dated: (JUNE 1978) Pages: 16-21
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE EQUIPMENT, PERSONNEL, AND UNDERWATER SEARCH AND RECOVERY OPERATIONS OF THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE UNDERWATER RECOVERY TEAM ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
ONE SERGEANT AND SIX POLICE OFFICERS COMPOSE A PERMANENT UNDERWATER RECOVERY TEAM WORKING WITHIN THE HARBOR COMMAND, A UNIT OF 100 MEN AND OFFICERS WITH THE CAPABILITY OF LAUNCHING 14 BOATS RANGING IN SIZE FROM 25-FOOT FIBERGLASS BOATS TO 52-FOOT STEEL-HULLED LAUNCHES. WHILE THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THE TEAM IS SEARCH AND RECOVERY, THEY HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED OTHER ROLES INCLUDING ASSISTING DETECTIVES IN HOMICIDE INVESTIGATIONS AND HELPING WITH WATER RESCUE EFFORTS. IN ITS RECOVERY OPERATIONS, THE SEARCH FOR A SMALL OBJECT, SUCH AS A GUN OR KNIFE, REQUIRES DETAILED PLANNING, KNOWLEDGE OF THE AREA AND ITS CURRENTS, AND CLOSE TEAMWORK. AFTER ALL AVAILABLE INFORMATION HAS BEEN COMPILED AND ANALYZED AND A DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE OF THE PROBABLE SEARCH LOCATION, A PRECISE SEARCH TECHNIQUE IS EMPLOYED, KNOWN AS THE 'PARALLEL SEARCH.' THE PATTERN IS ESTABLISHED BY ATTACHING 100 FEET OF FIVE-EIGTHS-INCH FLOATING PLASTIC LINE TO TWO 10-POUND GRAPNEL HOOKS. THIS SETUP IS LOWERED TO THE BOTTOM WITH 'UP' LINES ATTACHED TO EACH GRAPNEL CONNECTED TO SURFACE BUOYS. WITH ONE DIVER ON EITHER SIDE OF THE BOTTOM LINE, VISUAL OR TOUCH-TYPE SEARCH CAN BE MADE WHILE TRAVELING FROM ONE GRAPNEL TO THE OTHER. THE GRAPNEL IS THEN MOVED AWAY FROM THE ENTRY POINT TO A DISTANCE DETERMINED BY VISIBILITY AND BOTTOM CONDITIONS. ONCE THE GRAPNELS ARE RESET, THE DIVERS CONTINUE THEIR SYSTEMATIC SEARCH. USING THE PARALLEL SEARCH PATTERN FREES THE DIVERS TO WORK WITHOUT AN ATTACHING LINE TO THE DIVE BOAT. THE TEAM'S RECOVERY RATE IS OVER 90 PERCENT. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS IN THIS TYPE OF OPERATION IS DIVER SAFETY. THE WIDE RANGE OF DISCARDED OBJECTS--FROM COMPUTER TAPE TO A CIRCUS CAGE--ON THE BOTTOM IN NEW YORK WATERS CONSTITUTE SPECIAL HAZARDS THAT CAN CUT OR ENTANGLE A DIVER. THE PHYSICAL CONDITIONS OF THE DIVERS ARE ALSO KEPT IN TOP FORM THROUGH PLANNED TRAINING FOR TEAM MEMBERS. (RCB)