The newly formed LaPorte County Scuba Team conducted its first training as a unit. The countywide team is a combined unit consisting of 7 members of the Michigan City Police Scuba Team and the members of the LaPorte County Scuba team. The merger was created in a cooperative effort by Michigan City Police Department Chief Mark Swistek and LaPorte County Sheriff John Boyd.
The team participated in a two nigh-training exercises of ice water rescues which simulates person(s) who have fallen in the water from walking on the shelf ice.
Hosting this well put together event was the United States Coast Guard of Michigan City. Participating in the training including the Department of Natural Resources, Porter Fire Department, Chesterton Fire Department, and several other agencies. The training took place on the ice of Lake Michigan in the Washington Park Marina. Live victims were placed in protective suits and were in the frozen waters of Lake Michigan during this rescue training making it very realistic!
Cpl. Steve Alt, Co-commander of the unit, and Michigan City Police officer, was very impressed how the newly formed unit worked together on their first time as a combined team.