Md. State Troopers Double As Volunteer Scuba Divers

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- If you have a fear of water or the dark, this is not the job for you.

Alex Demetrick reports on the state troopers whose beat is under the bay.

The Maryland State Police Underwater Recovery Team gets the call when evidence gets wet.

"Our recovery is predominantly evidence or cadaver recoveries," Chris Davala, a trooper with the Underwater Recovery Team.

For training, it's the search for a toy rifle.

"For us, it's zero visibility no matter what we do," Davala said. "We like to refer to ourselves as seeing eye dogs underwater because everything is done by feel."

And it's done by volunteers.

State troopers whose usual shift might be patrolling highways suit up when a case leads to the water.

And there's more than water to deal with, such as submerged cars and docks.

"Overhead environments are where we want a helmet to protect the diver's head," said Harry Lloyd, another trooper with the team.

In the Chesapeake, it's usually black water most of the time. And while there's work under water, sometimes the work is done under ice.

"Yeah, ice diving," Lloyd said. "It's pretty under there, but it's very cold."

The job is often dark and cold, and they rely on mainly touch -- and teamwork.

"You have to trust each other," Davala said. "It's only you and another diver on the bottom."