The Bergen County Police Department Water Search and Recovery Unit (WSAR) was created in 1957 when the chief identified a critical need for law enforcement officers to operate in underwater environments. The purpose of this unit was to recover proceeds and evidence of criminal activity. Bergen County's vast lakes and streams as well as the three major rivers (Hackensack, Hudson, and Passaic) flowing through it provided a tempting medium for criminals to dispose of their weapons and incriminating evidence. The unit was also designed to conduct operations to recover human victims of accidental drowning.

The original unit included 20 volunteer officers from the Bergen County Police Department. The officers, after passing a rigorous swimming test received instruction in use of self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA). The officer's equipment consisted of wet suits, steel air tanks and double hose regulators. The unit first worked out of a station wagon graduating in time, first to a van, then to a panel truck, and then a donated commuter van. The current vehicle is a state-of-the-art vehicle that allows the modern WSAR unit to operate at a higher efficiency.

The current unit consists of ten Bergen County Police Department officers. Each officer/diver must possess a current dive certification from a national agency such as the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI). In addition to being a trained underwater investigator each diver also holds specialty certifications in one or more categories. some of the certifications include Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, Ice Diver, Rescue Diver, Aircraft Recovery Diver, and Underwater Photographer.

The technology has changed in the last 30 years to keep pace with the changing underwater world. New technology has enabled our divers to safely perform their task in an increasingly hostile environment of underwater investigation. In the last several years the officer/diver has been exposed to physical danger such as underwater debris as well as chemical and biological hazards. The closed system of dry diving suits and environmentally safe breathing apparatus provides a margin of safety that this special operation demands.

Additionally, specialized equipment such as underwater metal detectors and hard line communication has increased the efficiency of the unit. The WSAR unit maintains two water craft that provides work platforms for each operation. Our primary boat is a 16-foot Achilles inflatable with a 40 horsepower engine. The second craft is a 14-foot aluminum boat that services the Achilles and allows the unit to operate in smaller bodies of water.

With the addition of the new operation vehicle and a plan to standardize existing equipment , the Water Search and Recovery Unity will be prepared to provide this vital service to the law enforcement community well into the 21st century.

Services Provided

The Water Search and Recovery Unit is trained and equipped to locate and recover evidence, bodies, and other objects submerged in water. All personnel are experienced police officers who are trained as law enforcement divers.

	Searches are conducted as crime scene searches.
	Evidence is properly collected and documented.
	The chain of evidence is maintained by professional police officers.

Who to Call

Call Bergen County Police headquarters:

646-2700

What to Do

	Protect the scene, although under water, it is a crime or accident scene.
	Keep witnesses at the scene to facilitate the search.

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PO Charles R. Lekowski,  Systems Administrator and Webmaster
Copyright © 1998-2003  Bergen County Police Department. All rights reserved.                                
Revised: February 20, 2003