By Karen Robes Meeks
Port of San Diego Harbor Police Dive Rescue Team members recently completed their second training mission to the Batangas province in the Philippines.
The team presented an eight-day course in Underwater Crime Scene Investigations to members of the Philippine National Police’s Maritime Group, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
According to the port, the team also taught skills that would help public safety divers investigate crime scenes underwater, including how to tag and recover evidence, how to recover victims and how to document crime scenes.
“It was amazing to see the growth and development throughout this course. The participating agencies sent a full complement of their best divers to participate – they were motivated and worked hard,” said Chief Mark Stainbrook, Port of San Diego Harbor Police. “After several excellent meetings with the senior leadership, it is obvious our Philippine partners are committed to developing their internal procedures and training, and we stand ready to continue to assist in the future at the State Department’s request.”
