1	IN-SERVICE TRAINING Established 1988 Became a non-profit 501(c)(3) Organization in September 1997 Incorporated into the South Hays FD on June 6, 2004 Stationed a Fire Station 3 on Ranch Road 12 July 2004
2	Structure
3	Operations Commander Coordinates and supervises all non-diving operations In charge of topside team Coordinates with all on scene public service agencies Locates and interviews witnesses Obtains necessary information for FD and Dive Team reports Provides a last seen point and briefs the Divemaster Provides for logistics, hydration, support, evidence collection Keeps records of dive times, recovery times, video, photos Handles media relations Remains topside, does not dive Conducts debriefing Last authority on all topside operations for SMART
4	Divemaster In charge of divers entering the water and in-water dive operations Determines on “Risk vs. Benefit” factor for “go or no-go” on diving Decides personnel to enter the water based on level of training & experience Determines search patterns & equipment use Determines individual diver assignments Coordinates with Operations Commander Completes dive log report, chain of custody for evidence
5	Call and Response to a Scene Intelligence gathering begins immediately Get name of agency, officer, and return phone number of person in charge of scene Witnesses? Have witnesses remain at the scene Directions and access point to incident location Swift water or still water? Is the swift water team needed? Depth? Cameras vs. Divers Medical support – EMS on standby Non-emergency response
6	Gathering Intelligence
7	LSP – “Last Seen Point”
8	Topside Team
9	Case Study 1 – Lake Braunig, San Antonio, April 30, 2002 San Antonio Police homicide detectives contacted SMART to search an area of Lake Braunig in South East San Antonio where their investigation led them to believe a murder weapon has been discarded. They are looking for a .357 caliber handgun used in a capital murder at a Sac & Pac convenience store in San Antonio on April 21st. WITNESS- Informant states suspect walked to the end of a pier and threw a metallic object “far” directly off the pier. Informant believe the object was a handgun. The one witness is unavailable. SMART experiments by throwing rocks off the pier to determine the extent of the search pattern. Topside team sets up underwater communication gear and an underwater live feed video camera to record the dive. A “shoreline arc” pattern from the end of the pier while using an underwater metal detector is determined to be the best approach.
10	Brauning Lake
11	The Recovery and Evidence Preservation Diver searched for 67 minutes before a chrome .357 handgun was found, preserved, and recovered.
12	Outcome of the Operation The Smith and Wesson .357 is tested and presented at trial as the murder weapon where the defendant shot and killed a convenience store clerk. SMART Divers testify in the District Court of San Antonio on the recovery operation. On Feb 20, 2003 a jury found Robert Espinoza guilty of Capital Murder and sentenced him to life in prison without parole.
13	Case Study 2 – Comal Park, Canyon Lake, February 22, 2002 Joseph P. Bustamante and his friends Susan Gerardo, Daniel Reyna, and Fernando Reyna, all in their 20s, were boating when a cold front blew through and lashed the lake with choppy waves whipped up by 45 mph winds. The boat capsized in the middle of Canyon lake, and the four clung to the underside of the boat, intending to ride with it as the wind blew the boat to shore. When the overturn boat anchored near Comal Park, all four attempted to swim to shore. Bustamante was the only one of the three who did not make it to shore. SMART is called by the Comal County SO and US Army Corp of Engineers to search for the missing boater.
14	The Scene at Comal Park the next morning First responders were instructed…… ? “Do not move the boat” The wind direction was determined to be from the North at time of incident.
15	LSP is Determined to be near shore Divers prepare a shoreline arc search pattern when one survivor reported getting out of the water near a “big rock”.
16	Recovery The body is found in 35 feet of water, recovered and placed in a bag before being removed from the water. This is always done away from any family members that may be present. No foul play is suspected and the death is determined to be accidental.
17	Case Study 3 – New Braunfels, March 7, 2002 During high winds A fully loaded construction trailer is blown off FM 306 and into the Guadalupe River. Fearing environmental damage and an obstruction to recreational activities, SMART is called to remove the debris.
18	Infrared Camera Operations Divers use an underwater infrared hand held camera to survey the debris and record the dive.
19	Body of Evidence –The Rest Position A drowning victim assumes the most anatomically relaxed position in the water. The knees are slightly bent. The arms are in front of the body with the elbows bent. The “sitting down reading a book” position. The body will resort to this position when it is unobstructed and submerged. A body found in any other position was obstructed or possibly placed in the water after death.
20	Victim
21	Victim
22	Victim
23	Victim
24	Vehicle Recovery
25	BEFORE the vehicle is disturbed or removed from the water…. Note all aspects of the vehicle condition including – position, exterior and interior damage, tires, doors, windows, license plate etc.. Note all aspects of the vehicle operation including – keys, ignition, gear shift lever, radio, windshield wipers, headlight switch, trunk release, parking brake, etc.. Note property found inside and around the vehicle – Photographs and digital video if visibility allows.
26	Case Study in Vehicle Recovery Operation August 6, 1996 San Marcos River, Caldwell County A Crime Stoppers tip to San Marcos PD indicates that a vehicle is in the San Marcos River near CR-266. Divers located a submerged Monte Carlo and discover the vehicle is registered to man who was found dead floating in the water 7 miles down river 14 months earlier under suspicious circumstances. The vehicle was reported as “missing” at the time his body was found. SMART investigates and learns the crime stopper’s tip came from two swimmers who were tubing down the river and found the car accidentally during drought low water conditions. The deceased was reported missing one day before his body was found when he failed to show up for scheduled employment. The vehicle is processed by SMART Divers as a piece of evidence in the water and SMART records every aspect of the vehicle before it is removed from the water.
27	Condition and Operation of the vehicle Headlight switch ON Windshield wiper ON FM Radio ON Keys in ON position Gear shift lever DRIVE Driver’s door partially open Passenger door closed All windows UP Front wheels turned to the right as if making a right turn. Conclusion – Vehicle was in operation when it went into the water
28	Results of topside and diving investigation Deceased did not show up for work and was reported as a missing person the next day. Weather Research – Rain and flash flood conditions were present on the day he was absent from work. Vehicle was recovered 400 yards down stream from a low water crossing on CR 266 at the San Marcos River. Deceased usual route to work in his car would take him over the CR-266 San Marcos River low water crossing. Autopsy indicates cause of death was a asphyxiation due to drowning. CONCLUSION - Victim on his way to work attempted to forge a low water crossing in the rain with wipers on, radio on, vehicle in drive, and headlights on. As vehicle is pushed by high water Victim attempts to steer right to recover. Victim opens the driver’s side car door to escape. Victim is washed 7 miles down river and recovered in Martindale. The car travels 400 yards down river and is submerged facing upstream. – Accidental Drowning
29	How long have these vehicles been in the water? 2 Days 1-2 Years Accidental Stolen 2 years ago
30	SMART Guidelines for a Successful Recovery Operation Teamwork is No 1. Be a team player. Take your time, there is no emergency. Do your assigned task thoroughly and completely. Give frequent updates to the on scene commanders as information develops. Remember - each task is equally important as the next. Remember the rules of evidence – Preserve the scene. Nothing is touched, disturbed, altered, destroyed or moved until it is fully documented and preserved. Communication and good public relations with other agencies is an absolute MUST! Debriefing – What was good? What was wrong or needs improvement? How can we improve? END OF PRESENTATION