In fact this unit of 9 officers and 1 supervisor is responsible for all police related underwater work. Dozens of dives are conducted annually involving searches for evidence. The unit has recovered items as small as jewelry and shell casings, and as large as entire boats, even parts from the tragic crash of TWA flight 800. Working together with the US Navy, FBI, NY State Police and NYC Police, the SCPD Dive Unit conducted hundreds of dives during that investigation. The Unit uses high tech dive equipment in the course of its operations.
Communication is maintained with underwater radio units or with hardwire communications equipment.
For rapid deployment, the team has at its disposal the modern fleet of the Police Marine Bureau, the Aviation Unit's helicopters, or the Dive Unit's own specially equipped response vehicle. To aid in conducting underwater searches, the Team uses metal detectors, a towed dive sled, and a repertoire of search techniques which helps ensure that every square inch of the target area is thoroughly investigated. Depths of recent dives varied from 2 feet during a search for a weapon, to 129 feet during the TWA investigation. The Suffolk County Police Dive Team remains ready to assist the officers and detectives of your local Precinct to keep Suffolk County a great place to live and work. Return to the Suffolk Police Marine Bureau home page.