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Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
L.D.W.F. ENFORCEMENT DIVISION TO OFFER MARITIME SEARCH AND RESCUE COURSE TO QUALIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Law Enforcement Division (LDWF/LED) was recently granted approval by the Louisiana Police Officers Standards and Training (POST) Council to offer the Maritime Search and Rescue Course (MSARC) to qualified POST certified peace officers.

In the months after the devastating landfalls of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, several law enforcement agencies across the state of Louisiana realized a vital need to train officers in all aspects of search and rescue (SAR), especially maritime search and rescue.

The LDWF/LED is the primary agency for search and rescue in the state and the Governor?s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) designated lead for SAR operations.  LDWF/LED agents have several decades of experience in boating safety enforcement, maritime patrol enforcement and maritime search and rescue, and the division has received several requests from law enforcement agencies to provide maritime SAR training to their officers. 

As a result, LDWF/LED designed and implemented the 40 hour MSARC to train other law enforcement officers in such areas as marine search and rescue, Louisiana Emergency Operation Plans (ESF-9 SAR), navigation rules, vessel handling, waterborne arrest techniques and more.

The first offerings of the course have been scheduled for Oct. 29-Nov. 2, 2007 and Nov. 12-Nov. 16, 2007.

Officers must be Louisiana POST certified peace officers and have successfully completed a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators or U.S. Coast Guard approved boating education course before being eligible to attend the course.  Law enforcement agencies interested in having their officers attend the course or for more information on the course itself can contact LDWF/LED at 225-765-2980.

EDITORS: For more information, contact Rachel Zechenelly at rzechenelly@wlf.louisiana.gov or 225-765-2984.
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