Public Safety Dive Teams Display, Demo JW Fishers Equipment at Association Conference
The Washington County (MN) Water Recovery Unit demonstrated the capabilities of its JW Fishers ROV (remote operated vehicle) to public safety dive agencies at the Midwest Public Safety Divers Association Conference.
The JW Fishers ROV is equipped with sector scanning sonar (SCAN-650), which assists with search operations in low-visibility search operations. (Photo: JW Fishers)
2 min to read
Public safety diving teams are called to action for a variety of missions, responding to emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They may be required to dive in the middle of the night, during inclement weather, in zero visibility, or through polluted waters. These selfless men and women are often given very little to time to plan a search and rely solely on their team members, training, and specialized search equipment. JW Fishers seeks to provide these teams with the right tools for the job with the same mission-focus and devotion; any time, rain or shine.
In 2014, Detective Bill Nichols, team leader for the Oneida County (WI) Public Safety Dive Team, along with a group of like-minded Public Safety Scuba Divers from agencies around the state of Wisconsin formed the Midwest Public Safety Divers Association. These divers came together with the support of their agencies to create a resource network that could support public safety dive teams in the Midwest by opening communications to share information training, equipment, operations, and policies.
Ad Loading...
In 2015, the association held its first annual conference in Stevens Point, WI. The third annual Midwest Public Safety Divers Association Conference took place in 2017 and once again was an enormous success.
Detective Nichols is a current user of both JW Fishers Pulse 8X and SAR-1 underwater metal detectors. During the conference Bill had his search equipment on display for other divers to view. The Pulse 8X underwater metal detector has been rated #1 by U.S. Homeland Security, according to JW Fishers. The SAR-1 was introduced to the market in 2017. Specifically designed for "black water" operations, the SAR-1 is a great tool for teams that must succeed when visibility and dependability are a factor and failure is not an option.
At the conference, the Washington County (MN) Water Recovery Unit demonstrated the capabilities of its JW Fishers ROV (remote operated vehicle) to public safety dive agencies. (Photo: JW Fishers)
The Washington County (MN) Water Recovery Unit was also in attendance at the Midwest Public Safety Divers Association Conference. Part of the Water, Parks, and Trails Unit, the team is responsible for underwater search and recovery operations that have been directed or requested by the sheriff.
At the conference, the Washington County (MN) Water Recovery Unit demonstrated the capabilities of its JW Fishers ROV (remote operated vehicle) to public safety dive agencies with great success. The ROV is equipped with sector scanning sonar (SCAN-650), which assists with search operations in low-visibility search operations. The team also utilizes a JW Fishers Side Scan Sonar system that they train with regularly.
Law enforcement agencies have long relied on instinct and routine to optimize patrols. Patrolfinder uses data to help agencies see where officers go — and where they don’t — to improve visibility and maximize coverage.
Elite Interactive Solutions tackles crime prevention with technology and human intervention, working closely with local police to provide insights when a response is needed. The key is to blend the latest in remote video monitoring, artificial intelligence, and a well-trained agent with eyes on the scene.
The Billerica Police Department (Massachusetts) improved transparency and accountability, sharpened evidence management, and reduced manual hours by integrating Axis Communications body-worn cameras with its Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system.
ZeroEyes has integrated Samdesk into its Public Safety Alerts platform to deliver faster, verified intelligence to help organizations understand emerging risks and respond quickly.
The Fort Lee Police Department in New Jersey has modernized with Genetec Security Center, including video management, automatic license plate recognition (ALPR), and Clearance digital evidence management.
The joint redaction solution from Pimloc and Dynamic Workflow Solutions helps agencies reduce FOIA response time and compliance risk by automatically redacting faces, license plates, and other sensitive information from digital evidence.
The University of Alabama is using D-Fend Solutions as a counter-drone technology supplier for campus and game-day airspace security. The University integrates D-Fend’s EnforceAir into its Emergency Operations Center (EOC), utilizing a unified command framework to collaborate with local, state, and federal partners during major events.
Motorola Solutions is now part of the Cyber Threat Alliance, the first formally organized nonprofit group of cybersecurity practitioners that work together in good faith to share threat information and improve global defenses against advanced cyber adversaries.
Survey results from Genetec’s 2026 State of Physical Security Report highlight the demand for integrated systems that improve response times and reduce investigative workload. Nearly nine in 10 respondents said they use security data to help keep officers safe.
Audit Assistance is the latest tool in the Flock Trust & Compliance suite, a first-of-its-kind set of products and services that provides communities with guardrails and customization for accountability, transparency, and responsible use of the Flock platform.
