LPD’s Water Rescue Operations Team Gears Up for Summer

With Spring in the air and Summer quickly approaching, the Lakewood Police Department’s upgraded water rescue team is gearing up, Police Chief Rob Lawson tells TLS.

During the Summer months, aside from the available police rescue boat, police will have a jet ski stationed at the lake for water rescue operations. Close to ten officers are currently trained for its use, the Chief says.

The rescue team, which consists of about half dozen trained scuba divers, will be supported by members of Chaveirim and Lakewood First Aid – who have been trained as support staff for police rescue operations, says the Chief.

Though there hasn’t been any deaths in the lake over the last several years, police have resuced several stranded boaters after their boats either capsized or malfunctioned. (See here, and here).

While enjoying boating at the lake, “It goes without saying – always wear a life jacket,” said the Chief – a former dive team member and who himself holds multiple water rescue certifications. 

The team, currently under the direction of Deputy Chief Fred Capper, is expected to begin the season’s operations within the next two weeks. [TLS]

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12 COMMENTS

  1. Scuba bob im not sure how chavierim will help but can tell you that lakewood First Aid with lakewood Ems are the priority dept’s in lakewood when it comes to these kinds of programs like extrication , water Rescue and ESSU,LFA and lakewood Ems personell are all highly Trained EMTs that is how they are qualified. And EMT Hatzolah isn’t 911 or the back up to 911 so theirs no reason for them to be on the water rescue team,

  2. Chaveirim from a Medical standpoint may not be necessary but from a logistical and mechanical end they’re the best asset to have on standby

  3. First of all chaveirim is a wonderful organization. They spend their whole day rescuing people in their own way. Chaveirim has some wonderfully trained logistical and rescue volunteers that can size up and take control of a scene very quickly and efficiently. Also being that a majority of the people being rescued are members of the community I would like to know that there is a frum brother standing there on the shore or in the water for me to lend a helping hand in my predicament it makes things a lot more comfortable. May hashem bentch us that we never need the services of the dive team!

  4. Lakewood Chaveirim a non profit organization, an active member of Lakewood’s OEM, most members are trained by CERT (a division of Homeland security). Chaveirim volunteers are comprised of highly qualified; contractors, electricians, plumbers, businessman, students, and simple people, the common ground of all members is a big heart.
    Members joining Chaveirim receive training how to handle day to day calls including but not limited to boosts, flat tires, home and auto lockouts, emergency flooding situations, emergency animal entering home situations and many more scenarios.
    Lakewood Chaveirim also works hand in hand with Hatzolah, responding to non medical emergencys, and with the Lakewood Police dept. helping the PD whenever needed, whether it’s assisting with lockouts or assisting getting stalled vehicles of the road, or assisting and coordinating community events especially when special care is needed to meet our community sensitivities.
    Chaveirim is an organization that can be hard to define. What services, exactly, do they offer?
    They offer help!
    Most calls that they deal with are flat tires, engine boosts, cars that are out of gas and car and home lockouts. However, they also deal with tons of unusual calls that require particular creativity and skill. They range from cars getting stuck on railroad tracks, tree removal, birds and animals at home, jewelry flushed down toilets and street drains, people getting stuck on roofs, offering driving directions to someone lost in northern New Jersey late at night, and everything in between.

  5. How come Chaverim doesn’t join all of these other agencies if they are so interested in helping people out.
    The Volunteer Fire Dept. can definetly use more members.

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