𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗕𝗢𝗥 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗢𝗘𝗦: Officers Lead High-Risk Rescue Training at Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica, CA — Wednesday, May 28, 2025 — Santa Monica Harbor Patrol officers conducted a comprehensive rescue training exercise off the Santa Monica Pier this week, demonstrating key emergency response techniques designed to protect the public along the city’s coastal waters. Wearing wetsuits and equipped with safety gear, officers leapt from the edge of the pier into the Pacific Ocean to simulate an overboard rescue. Using a life-sized mannequin as a stand-in victim, the team secured the figure into a rescue basket, which was then hoisted from the water using a cable system. The drill also included paddleboard maneuvers, practicing swift-response techniques under simulated emergency conditions. The training is part of the Harbor Patrol’s ongoing commitment to public safety along Santa Monica’s busy coastline. Officers are responsible for patrolling the pier, beach, and surrounding waters by foot, vehicle, or rescue boat. Their duties include responding to ocean rescues, medical emergencies, boat and pier fires, and other critical incidents. Harbor Patrol personnel are cross-trained in SCUBA rescue, search and recovery, fire suppression, and marine operations. They maintain two rescue vessels and operate specialized equipment, including hoists, fire pumps, and salvage gear. Their role also extends to the enforcement of local ordinances, issuing citations for municipal code violations on the pier and beach. In addition to emergency response, officers inspect and maintain navigational buoys, respond to public complaints, issue safety advisories via the pier’s weather station, and assist with maintenance of pier infrastructure. The drill underscores the multi-disciplinary nature of the Harbor Patrol’s work and their readiness to act under high-risk conditions—including the ability to perform rescues in turbulent surf and leap 25 feet from the pier to access victims in the water. As summer crowds return to Santa Monica’s beaches, the Harbor Patrol’s visibility and preparedness play a critical role in ensuring safety for visitors and residents alike. — For continued updates on public safety and coastal operations, follow Santa Monica Closeup.