Marine Patrol, Underwater Search

MARINE PATROL, UNDERWATER SEARCH AND RESCUE, SEARCH AND RESCUE

PROTECTING OUR WATERWAYS

The Marine Patrol Unit (MPU) is comprised of a Second Lieutenant, two full-time officers and five supplemental officers who helped maintain a daily presence on our water ways from May 22 through September 10, 2020. Notably, our MPU provided an escort to honor disabled veterans and law enforcement officers. Our MPU also ensured safe passage for Operation Deep Blue, a group of kayakers who paddle from New Jersey to Quantico to honor fallen law enforcement officers.

ALWAYS READY

Our Search and Rescue (SAR) Team is dedicated to finding missing people, recovering evidence and often providing mutual aid to surrounding jurisdictions when needed.

The SAR Team continued to work under the Major Crimes Bureau strengthening the working relationship and allowing for a smooth and timely response to scenes. As a result of the pandemic, our SAR Team saw a reduction in the number of searches for missing people.

UNDER WATER SEARCH AND RESCUE

The mission of the Under Water Search and Rescue team is to support Department entities in the retrieval of evidence or property and the recovery of drowning victims from the underwater resting places throughout Fairfax County.

The team conducts training and operations throughout the year and is just as capable of diving in subzero weather, under a layer of ice, as they are in a warm pond on a summer afternoon.