CHESAPEAKE, VA – The Chesapeake Police Department’s Underwater Search and Rescue Team (USART), supported by the city’s Marine Patrol, held a full-scale dive training exercise at Oak Grove Lake Park on February 16, 2026, honing critical rescue and recovery skills used in emergency water operations.
According to the department, both the USART and Marine Patrol units consist of officers who serve in these specialized capacities in addition to their regular patrol duties. The exercise allowed participants to practice underwater search techniques, victim recovery procedures, and coordination between land-based and marine response teams.
Department officials said regular training is essential to maintain readiness for real-world incidents such as vehicle submersions, missing persons cases, and evidence recovery in city waterways.
Training keeps rescue teams mission-ready
The Chesapeake Police Department conducts several joint operations each year to ensure synchronization among its specialty units, particularly those responsible for water-related emergencies. The Marine Patrol Unit, equipped with patrol boats and sonar technology, often assists USART divers during active investigations or rescues in rivers, lakes, and canals across the city.
- Chesapeake Police USART and Marine Patrol conducted dive training at Oak Grove Lake Park
- Exercises strengthen readiness for underwater search and rescue operations
- Both teams balance specialty unit duties with regular patrol responsibilities
Residents visiting Oak Grove Lake Park on training days may notice police activity on the water, which officials note is part of routine skill development to enhance public safety throughout Chesapeake.