Water Rescue Training

Professional athletes claim that the way they train is the way they play.

It is no different for First Responders.

The United States Park Police Aviation staff trains on an ongoing basis with partners from the agencies we work with daily.

On May 2, 2010, the District of Columbia Fire Department, Washington, DC Police Department Harbor Patrol, and the US Park Police Aviation conducted water rescue training in the Anacostia River.

For this drill, a vehicle was submerged upside down with people trapped, and another victim floating away.

The Police and Fire boats responded and deployed divers for the rescue. US Park Police Aviation arrived to hoist a victim from the waters.

The Aviation staff made a sucessful recovery with a hoist operation into the aircraft.

United States Park Police Aviation has a long history of difficult rescues resolved well. These pilots and paramedics have rightfully received significant recognition for these operations.

They play the way they train.

This training session was done on a hot and steamy morning. The EMS providers will tell us that proper hydration is critical to good health. That includes our canine partners with the DC Fire Department Search and Rescue Unit!

Newly Trained Mounted Officers

After ten grueling weeks of training, six United States Park Police Officers and Sergeants have completed Mounted Patrol School.

This training is considered to be some of the most physically challenging police training available with many sore muscles resulting!!

The following can rub horse liniment on their weary bodies and sigh with a great sense of accomplishment.

Sergeant Shain Mellott
Sergeant Patrick Kaiser
Officer Erin Brown
Officer Laura Teeple
Officer Gary Fuller
Officer Thomas Gordon

Serious Bus Crash West Potomac Park

Two buses collided in West Potomac Park on Friday April 30 leaving two injured

This crash happened on Ohio Drive at about 11:00 am and involved a head on collision.

One bus appears to have crossed onto the wrong side of Ohio Drive and struck what appears to be a stopped bus.

The driver of the stopped bus was able to get out of his bus and was treated by District of Columbia Fire Department personnel. He was transported to George Washington University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The operator of the other bus was tightly pinned in the wreckage. DC Fire Department crews used saws, prying tools, and hydraulic spreaders to remove large parts of the front of this bus to free the driver. This extrication took almost one hour.

United States Park Police Detectives and Crash Reconstructionists are investigating this scene to ascertain causative factors.