There was considerable UW and top side police activity in the genesis of diving
1) There was an article in SDM many years ago --possibly 40=50 years ago about UW detectives
2) During the transition to hand only for the capture of California lobster the late local D&G wardens Bob Twilliger and Bob Dillinger who were friends as well as avid sport divers would dive in some of the local hot spots, observe divers using hooks. They would signal for surfacing display their badge and swim back to shore with them for processing.
3) The big bust was on the wreck of the Winfield Scott which was declared a national historic site and absolutely no touch - no take zone.
There was a charter (as I recall on Glen Millers boat) to the WS. On board was a number of the members of the recently formed California Wreck Divers Club and the usual assortment of sport divers, including a number of federal officers.
After the first dive all the wreck divers held up their loot for pictures and discussion, which was taped recorded. After their "show and tell" the federal officers identified themselves and stated "You are under arrest, take off your equipment stack it in the corner and set over there " and began writing tickets.
As I recall after all these years the fines were rather substantial and all violators were unceremoniously discharged from the club.
4) About 50 years ago LA County Sheriffs department formed their SWAT team. A component of them applied, was accepted and successfully completed the very demanding LA Co UW instructors program which I was one of the instructors . I have remained in occasional contact with many of them but our discussions have been directed towards consumptive diving ..Abalone , Scallops and Spearfishing.
5) About 45 or so years ago I presented classes for both Garden Grove (GG) and Huntington Beach (HB) California police departments.
GG needed officers to do S&R for firearms tossed in various lakes and ponds of the city
HB needed trained officers to do S&R UW off their pier and to recover narcotics tossed over board from boats in their harbor. Originally the officers would be required to run down the gang way to the boat and apprehend the culprits before they could pull a slip knot string releasing their bag on narcotics in to the deep. The officers were not very successful -- Until they had trained SCUBA divers in the water next to the boats waiting for the culprits to pull the string dropping their narcotics into their out stretched arms . The word got around fast in the Narcotic world about the unfairness of the HB police department... ..
Just a little almost unrecorded almost forgotten police diving history that I was either and observer or a participant .
Now you can have a chat with your Chief or be the hit at choir practice
Sam Miller, 111
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