responds to any water related emergency in the City and
Borough of Sitka. The team currently consists of a Captain,
a Lieutenant, two Dive Medics, and 14 Divers who are cross
trained as divers and tenders. The team drills every month.
ACUC and have attended courses through Life Guard
Systems (LGS), Dive Rescue International (DRI), and HSS.
The team members have attended training to include; Rapid
Response/Search/Rescue and Recovery Diving, Black Water
Diving, Wide Area Search, Sled Diving, Underwater Boat
Extrication, Underwater Explosive Detection, Surface Ice
Rescue, Surface Water Rescue, Ice Diving, High/Low Angle
Rope Rescue, Swift Water Rescue, Underwater
Investigations and Underwater Crime Scene Tech., etc. We
have also sent members to the International Police Diver
Symposium where they meet with dive teams from the FBI,
NYPD, US Navy, and all over the world.
Sitka Police Department’s Investigative Dive Unit works and
trains under the umbrella of the Fire Department’s Dive
Team. The Dive Medics are certified as EMT III's with the
State of Alaska, and have attended a Dive Medic course.
Several of the team members are trained EMT’s. Our
Medical Director has been certified by NOAA as a Diving
Medical Officer and can run the hyperbaric chamber.
Open Water Diving, and have logged a minimum of 25 dives
(15 in a dry suit) and worked as a tender for 3 months before
starting public safety dive training with the team. Most of
the divers hold either Rescue Diver or Dive Master
Certifications through PADI. Some of the members hold
additional specialty certifications.
The team is capable of conducting shore operations, boat
operations, and has been deployed by the United States
Coast Guard's Jay Hawk Helicopters.
masks (AGA’s), and underwater communications for Haz
Mat conditions. The team has a ROV and a Side Scan
Sonar, which can operate to a depth of 1,000 feet. The team
also utilizes an underwater video camera and digital camera
and an underwater metal detector for the collection and
documentation of evidence.
which include bridge jumpers, over turned kayaks and
overturned fishing vessels with people in the water. The
team has responded to downed air craft, overturned boats,
and submerged vehicles. The team has conducted several
water related death investigations, evidence recovery
operations and recovered thousands of dollars in stolen
property, including discarded firearms in criminal cases.
