By Karen Robes Meeks
The US State Department has recruited the Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department’s dive team to help federal and Philippine maritime law enforcement agencies improve their ability to conduct underwater searches and respond to disaster situations in the Philippines.
The port dive team took part in a curriculum development workshop from July 17–20 with six Philippine maritime law enforcement experts from the Philippine Coast Guard, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the Philippine National Police Maritime Group.
The workshop addressed various topics, such as detecting illegal drugs smuggled on the hull of vessels or dumped overboard for later retrieval. The curriculum will eventually be part of the three Philippine law enforcement agencies’ training academies.
“This is another important opportunity in our partnership with US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, said Chief John Bolduc, Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department.
“Our dive team is essential in our department’s work to deter crime locally and in maintaining homeland security. By sharing our expertise with our counterparts at INL and in Philippine law enforcement, we’re helping to keep ports and harbors around the world safe as well,” he added.
The effort is part of a broader program to share best practices with law enforcement agencies for ports and harbors around the world to support foreign port security and fight international crime.
Thursday, August 10, 2017
