Policy Text
San Francisco Police Department 6.03
GENERAL ORDER Rev. 05/20/20
UNDERWATER DIVING OPERATIONS
6.03.01
PURPOSE
The purpose of this order is to establish protocols for conducting underwater operations.
It is the intention of this order to establish guidelines rather than to detail the procedures
for every conceivable dive operation.
6.03.02
POLICY
It is the policy of the San Francisco Police Department that:
A.The Marine Unit shall be responsible for managing the day to day and long
term activities for Dive Operations through a recognized Dive Team structure,
including, but not limited to, planning, training, budgeting, equipment
procurement and Dive Team personnel management. The Marine Unit will be
responsible for immediate diving response.
B.The Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit (EOD) will be responsible for
coordinating and conducting underwater operations as they relate to suspected
underwater hazardous devices. Marine Unit personnel and equipment shall
support EOD underwater operations as necessary. EOD may also augment the
Marine Unit diving operations.
C.SFPD Members not assigned to the Marine Unit may be temporarily assigned
to the Marine Unit and may assist EOD divers when needed.
D.The San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) is responsible for immediate
rescue diving operations. The San Francisco Police Department is responsible
for evidence recovery to include body recovery. Through inter-agency
training, as well as familiarization with equipment and operation protocols,
•SFPD Dive Team members may supplement SFFD dive operations, and SFFD
divers may augment SFPD Dive Team operations.
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DGO 6.03
Rev. 05/20/20
6.03.03
PROCEDURES
A.Qualifications
The following are considered minimal standards for the San Francisco Police Department
Dive Team. Members interested in the Dive Team will be required to submit a
memorandum via their Chain of Command to the Commanding Officer of the Homeland
Security Unit indicating their interest and qualifications. Interested members must have
completed Departmental probation. Applicants must possess an advanced open water
SCUBA certification from a nationally recognized SCUBA institution. All Dive Team
divers must pass an annual dive physical examination, SCUBA skills evaluation, and
general physical fitness evaluation. These requirements are also extended to Dive Team
members assigned to EOD.
Additionally, all divers shall successfully complete an annual medical evaluation and
receive certification for operation in a SCUBA respirator.
Permanent Marine Unit members assigned to the Dive Team shall have a minimum two
year commitment to the assigned position unless a promotional opportunity is awarded.
Externally assigned collateral duty divers are sworn members assigned to other
Department Details and work as a Dive Team member as a collateral assignment only.
Therefore, this assignment is not subject to nor governed by General Order 11.06
Personnel Transfers.
Test: All divers shall successfully complete a skills assessment prior to participation in
Department dive operations. Divers must demonstrate proficiency in the following
disciplines: Surface swimming; basic SCUBA gear inspection and operation; proper
donning and doffing of equipment, both on the surface and subsurface; and emergency
entanglement and out of air procedures.
B.Training and Experience
1.All Dive Team members shall minimally possess a PADI Advanced Open
Water (or NAUI, SSI equivalent) certification.
2.Dive Team members shall complete training dives no fewer than 4 times per
calendar year, with proficiency testing to be included. Members who fail to
meet the minimum number of required dives may be restricted from dive
operations or removed from the Team. Unsupervised, non-police recreational
dives shall not be used to substitute for qualification dives.
Additionally, each Dive Team member shall have training and experience in
the following:
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DGO 6.03
Rev. 05/20/20
a.The use of the instruments and equipment appropriate to the diving
activity to be conducted, including the operation of sonar equipment
and remote operated vehicles.
b.Techniques of the diving mode (surface supplied air or SCUBA) to be
used.
c.Dive planning and emergency procedures.
d.Diver rescue techniques and diving related first aid.
3. Dive Team members who are exposed (or control the exposure of others) to
hyperbaric conditions shall be trained in diving-related physics and
physiology and recognition of pressure related injuries.
C. Medical Requirements
The Dive Supervisors shall ensure the divers who are, or are likely to be,
exposed to hyperbaric conditions have passed a current physical examination
and have been declared medically fit to engage in diving activities.
2. Medical Examinations are also required at:
a.One year intervals from the date of initial examination of last
equivalent examination; and
b.After an injury or illness requiring hospitalization of more than
twenty-four (24) hours; and
c.After an episode of unconsciousness or other injury related to diving
activity.
3. Divers shall immediately notify the Commanding Officer of Homeland
Security Unit via Department Memorandum of any medical conditions that
require admission to a hospital, renders them potentially unfit to dive, or
places themselves or other members of the Dive Team at risk.
D. Personnel
Officer in Charge (OIC): Shall be a Sergeant assigned to the Marine Unit and
appointed OIC by the Commanding Officer of HSU. The OIC shall be responsible for
overseeing all dive operations, training, equipment procurement, maintenance, and
training certificates and records.
Designated Dive Supervisors: Shall be experienced, nationally certified divers (NAUI,
PADI, S SI), and have skills, knowledge and