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ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE GENERAL ORDER Effective Date: October 4, 2023  Amends - GO 17.1.9 ( February 17, 2016 ) Number: 17.1.9 Distribution: All Personnel Review Month: April Reviewing Authority: SOD / Specialized Patrol Subject: Underwater Search And Recovery Team (USRT) This order consists of the following: 1. Purpose 2. Policy 3. Procedures 1. Purpose The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for operations involving the Underwater Search and Recovery Team (USRT). 2. Policy It will be the policy of the agency to maintain the Underwater Search and Recovery Team for the purpose of safely conducting underwater search and recovery operations. 3. Procedures A. Administration The USRT shall have a maximum of thirty (30) divers as signed specifically for water related incidents requiring the use of SCUBA trained personnel. 1. The USRT has a chain of command as follows: a. Team Commander – shall hold the rank of Lieutenant b. Assistant Team Commander c. Two (2) Team Leaders d. Two (2 ) Assistant Team Leaders 2. The position of Assistant Team Commander and Assistant Team Leader can only be held by divers of any rank Sergeant or below . 3. The Underwater Search and Recovery Team (USRT) shall be under the administrative control of the Specialized Patrol Section . 4. Requests for the USRT will be made to the USRT Commander or designee. The USRT Commander or designee shall make an assessment for personnel and equipment needed . 5. The USRT Commander or designee shall coordinate with Marine Patrol for the type of vessels and equipment needed to support dive operations . B. Team Commander has overall responsibility for: 1. All diving operations and the coordination of all pertinent training. 17.1.9, Page 2 of 6 2. The qualification and safe diving practices of all assigned divers to include proper use of safety equipment. 3. For placing USRT members on probation or removing t hem from the team. 4. Verifying that the USRT performs only those functions for which it is trained and equipped. 5. Coordinating with local, state, and federal agencies when further equipment or expertise is required. 6. Designating an Assistant Team Command er, Team Leaders and Assistant Team Leaders. 7. Maintenance and inspection of all equipment. 8. Maintaining team records. 9. Confirming dive briefings and debriefings are conducted at all operations. 10. Making the decision to dive or not to dive. C. USRT Assistant Team Commander shall be responsible for: 1. Training all USRT members. 2. While at dive operations the USRT Assistant Team Commander, or designee shall be responsible for the diving operations of the team during simulated or actual incidents. 3. Report ing the sta tus of each diving situation to the Team Commander . 4. Preparing the annual curriculum to be followed for all training squad sessions in accordance with GO 18.1.4 . 5. In the absence of the Team Commander, assuming all the responsibilities of the Team Commander. D. Safety Officer 1. A Safety Officer shall be designated for each mission and training event. No underwater missions or trainings will be conducted without a Safety Officer designated or present. The Safety Officer has the authority of the Team Commander to stop any operation if unsafe conditions are observed. The operation will not be restarted until the safety concerns have been addressed and mitigated by the USRT Commander or designee. 2. The Safety Officer should be an experienced and veteran USRT member who is familiar with various missions and equipment used by the Team. The Safety Officer reports directly to the USRT Commander or designee for all matters related to safety during dive missions or training. The Safety Officer 17.1.9, Page 3 of 6 shall brief the USRT Commander on all safety related matters. 3. The Safety Officer shall be responsible for: a. Monitoring all aspects of the USRT to include, but not limited to, operations, tactics, equipment, and procedures. b. Reviewing lesson plans and training agendas and confers with training instructors on all aspects of training. c. Reviewing various types of USRT equipment used on missions and making recommendati ons on the suitability of future equipment purchases. E. Team Leaders 1. Each team of divers shall have a designated Team Leader and Assistant Team Leader who shall be responsible for: a. Their assigned divers at all operations and training. b. Assisting the Team Co mmander, and Assistant Team Commander with his/her responsibilities. c. Preparing the Master Diver's Log on all operational dive call outs. d. Confirming safe diving practices are being followed. e. Making the decision not to dive for his/her team members. 2. The Team Leader or designee on scene shall evaluate the conditions at each diving situation. This information will be provided to team personnel for determining the risk/benefit factor to facilitate the dive or no dive decision. 3. Team Leaders shall inspec t the log book record for each diver assigned to his/her team each month. 4. In the absence of team leaders the assistant team leaders shall perform all the team leader duties. F. USRT Team Members shall: 1. Attend all training sessions. 2. Respond to all call -outs as requested. 3. Meet all Team requirements. Failure to do so may be