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Working Divers


Ottawa Police Service Underwater Search and Recovery Unit

Ottawa Police Underwater Search and Recovery Unit (USRU) was formed in 1957 and comprised primarily of World War II veterans. It is the oldest continuous serving Police Dive Team in Canada.

Currently, Ottawa Police USRU, is comprised of 9 part time members that share their work between USRU training and their substantive positions. The vast majority of officers are drawn from patrol services within the organization due to the requirements of mandatory police dive training. Of these 9 members, 6 members are assigned to Marine Patrol duties from May 1st to October 31st, each year, in order to provide the citizens of Ottawa a marine presence on the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers.

What do they do?

USRU has a strong core of dedicated officers, constantly striving to provide thorough and professional search and recovery service, Ottawa residents have come to expect from their police service. Although the notion of diving into a hazardous underwater environment, which has already claimed a life, would not appeal to the vast majority of the public, it is a task that members take seriously and with a sense of pride, in providing closure for families of victims.

Members of the USRU are called on to enforce the Historic Canals Act, the Small Vessel Regulation (Canada shipping Act), Collision Regulations, the Liquor Act, and the Criminal Code among others. The Marine Unit also brings with them knowledge of local waterways, specific hazards and are trained to perform search and rescue techniques.

The USRU responds to complaints from the community as well as educates the public on water safety, regulations and speed enforcement. And during the recovery of a capsized vessel, members work with their partners, such as the Ottawa Fire Department Swift Water Rescue team, in order to find the safest approach to the scene.

All members are specially trained to investigate: Water related sudden deaths, post mortem physiology, skeletal remains recovery, air crash investigation, weapons recovery and preservation, among others.

Forensic Recovery

Since there are an infinite number of items that end up on the bottom of our area lakes and rivers, police divers require to be flexible and adaptable to individual situations. Officers work with specialized gear such as lift bags to recovery deep and heavy objects imbedded in the bottom as well as working with equipment such as underwater metal detectors, meter long grid patterns and large powerful magnets to find and recover items which can sometimes be no bigger than a few centimeters large.

Forensic recovery is a specialized and unique form of occupational diving. The police diver acts as an underwater detective, using tactics, procedures and forensic techniques in the pursuit of truth. The police diver is merely an extension of the police function, underwater. This expertise has included supporting other police services, municipalities and federal agencies in the search for missing persons, retrieving and documenting evidence of major crimes and the recovery of victims from water related misadventure.

USRU currently has the capability of diving, searching and recovering to a depth of 100 feet, which is governed by provincial diving regulations. This depth rapidly extends with the use of Side Scanning Sonar to a capability of 250 feet.

USRU Technologies

The Ottawa Police Services’ divers use both open circuit SCUBA and surface-supplied air systems depending on the nature of the operation. Each diver is equipped with the following gear, among other tools:

  • Positive pressure full face mask
  • Heavy duty Pro dry suit
  • Thermal underwear
  • 100lb lift back mounted Buoyancy Control Device /back pack
  • Twin 80 cu/ft aluminum cylinder and 80 cu/ft aluminum bail-out cylinder, which is used only in an emergency or during training scenarios
  • Two first stage regulators, which are fitted with an environmental encapsulation, to ensure contaminates stay out of the breathing system
  • US Diver knife - in case of entanglement with fishing lines underwater
  • Harness mounted cutting tool
  • 5 point diving harness integrated in the back plate of the diver
  • Weight belt and ankle weights
  • Mustang "Industrial" PFD Mustang bomber style floater coat
  • Large pocket Fins

Team Equipment:

  • Surface supply panel with built in comm box
  • 330 ft and 300ft. diver's twisted air hose consisting, pneumo hose, comms cable encapsulated for easy decontamination.
  • Two diver hardwire communication unit (for SCUBA operations)
  • 300 ft. com-rope lifelines
  • Helmets (three) video camera Amphibico video housing with dual lighting set
  • SLR camera and sea and sea dry housing
  • O2 (oxygen) and first aid kit
  • "Atlantic Class" Ice commander survival suits
  • Assorted throw bags for water and surface ice rescue

USRU members are constantly researching and developing new techniques, equipment and technology to assist in their mandate. Recently, the USRU acquired an underwater digital camera capable for use in searching and documenting areas where it would be too hazardous to send down a diver or to limit the search time. The images or video from the camera downloads to a laptop and saved to a disk. This function can assist investigators on land by providing an accurate account of the situation and an immediate hard copy for the file. These new technologies have become an invaluable tool in supporting and documenting evidence for both criminal court and public inquiries, venues where USRU members may be asked to testify as to their accounts of events and their actions.

Serving Ottawa

The Ottawa Police Service Underwater Search and Recovery Unit provides the public with a highly professional, trained and equipped service capable of extending almost all aspects of forensic investigation and recovery underwater. This unit is a function of the Police Service and must guarantee that the 'best evidence rule' as adhered to in the event the case is brought before the courts all the while ensuring that the rules and regulations of the commercial dive industry are followed.

Become a Member of the Ottawa Police Service

There are 5 phases that Ottawa Police Service members must undergo for the selection and training of as USRU members. If you’re interested in becoming a member of the Ottawa Police Service, please contact our recruiting team.

For more information on the Ottawa Police Services’ Underwater Search and Recovery Unit, please contact:

Constable Brent MacIntyre

Underwater Search and Recovery Unit/ Marine
(613) 236-1222 ext. 3527

Written by: Constable Paul Hart and Constable Brent MacIntyre, March 2009