Ice Training on the Reservoirs

Our Environmental Police Emergency Service Unit recently held ice trainings for employees that interact with our upstate reservoirs. During exercises at Rondout Reservoir, staff were given instruction on how to safely obtain water samples from icy waters. They were also provided familiarity training with the airboats, which allow for remote access to frozen sampling stations on iced over reservoirs.

Environmental police officers also recently practiced surface ice rescue operations on the West Basin of Ashokan Reservoir. Participants learned the characteristics of ice, how hypothermia can affect both the victim and the rescuer, and what rescue methods are safest and most effective given the ice conditions. Officers also trained how to employ various rescue techniques utilizing ice picks and tow ropes.

Our environmental police division was established more than 100 years ago. It is charged with protecting the city’s water supply system, which includes two dozen reservoirs and lakes, more than 2,000 square miles of watershed land across nine counties, hundreds of miles of tunnels and aqueducts, dozens of dams, treatment plants, laboratories and other facilities. They patrol the watershed by foot, bicycle, all-terrain vehicle, motorcycle, boat and helicopter. They also maintain specially trained units that include a detective bureau, emergency service unit, canine unit and aviation unit. All together, the division includes 222 sworn officers.