Los Angeles Port Police has announced its decision to deploy specialised sonar equipment to Santa Barbara County to assist officials in search and recovery efforts after a tragic boat fire that killed 34 people.
A crew from the Port Police of the Port of Los Angeles has arrived on Tuesday with a 70-foot dive boat and state-of-the-art sonar equipment capable of scanning the ocean floor and relay video images to the crew on the dive boat.
The Port Police will assist in gathering evidence and documenting the debris area as well as assist with dive operations.
Tom Gazsi, Port of Los Angeles Police Chief, said, “Our hearts go out to the victims and the surviving families and friends of this terrible accident.
“It is a privilege to provide allied assistance along with the many public safety agencies who are working hard to locate those lost and support the investigation of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.
The Port Police acquired sonar equipment with federal Homeland Security grants.
About The Los Angeles Port Police
The Los Angeles Port Police is one of the few police forces in the US dedicated exclusively to 24-hour port activities.
It is responsible for patrol and surveillance of the Port of Los Angeles and neighboring LA Harbor Area communities. The primary mission of the Port Police is to maintain the free flow of commerce and produce a safe, secure environment that promotes uninterrupted Port operations.
As California peace officers, the Port Police enforce federal, state, and local public safety statutes as well as environmental and maritime safety regulations.
