See How MA Environmental Police Are Trained in Water Survival
This past week the Massachusetts Environmental Police to part in their officer Water Survival Training program with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police Underwater Recovery Unit.
Environmental Police Lt. David Unaitis explained that the training started in 2013 and is mandatory for every new Mass Environmental Police Officer to complete. Given the department they sever in, Lt. Unaitis says it's essential for each officer to learn how to survive in the water while wearing full gear.
Once trained themselves the officers from the MEP will, in turn, provide training to local agencies across the state, so the State Police Dive Team was pleased for the opportunity to assist and share their expertise. Some of the lessons they went over in the photos below were how to stay dry, controlled breathing, treading water, defensive tactics, and various swimming strokes.
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The State Police Dive Team and the Environmental Police recently used their skills in the field, first in an extensive search for a missing Holyoke boy in the Connecticut River and last week right here in Pittsfield as they searched Pontoosuc Lake for a missing New York man.
The Massachusetts Environmental Police is a state government law enforcement agency, which is the primary enforcement agency of Massachusetts's boating and recreation vehicle laws and regulations and is responsible for the activity of boats, off-highway vehicles, and snowmobiles, and more in the Commonwealth.
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