With New York's summer heat intensifying, the NYPD is placing increased emphasis on water safety education, especially for younger beach visitors. At a recent session held at Rockaway Beach, officers provided swimming safety lessons aimed at raising awareness about potential hazards in the water. According to a report by ABC7NY, the session addressed both recreational aspects and underlying water-related hazards.
As part of the initiative, the NYPD Scuba team led a demonstration allowing participants, including 17-year-old Santiago Reynoso, to observe and engage in simulated search and rescue procedures. Reynoso told ABC7NY, "It was actually a lot of fun, even just like watching them do the things and especially holding what they had, because...it's heavy, surprisingly." This activity followed a recent incident involving a 22-year-old man who went missing and was later found deceased near Beach 25th Street in the Rockaways.
Another case referenced by the NYPD involved the recovery of an unidentified man's body near Beach 97th Street. These incidents have highlighted the risks associated with disregarding beach safety protocols. Detective Robert A. Rodriguez of the NYPD Scuba team explained to ABC7NY, "We don't want to come here, we don't want to be an ever presence, present presence here, we don't want to be an often presence here," noting that while much of the team's work involves retrieving evidence, body recoveries also form part of their responsibilities.
The scuba team emphasized key safety practices such as swimming only in areas monitored by lifeguards and adhering to posted beach signage. In a New York Post report, Detective Christopher Johnson stated, "The number one thing is that you gotta swim with a lifeguard," noting that even experienced swimmers can face sudden medical emergencies in deep water.
The program also introduced participants—ranging from teenagers to local residents—to the specialized tools used by the NYPD Scuba Unit, including underwater scooters and a water-compatible “Jaws of Life” device. In the New York Post coverage, 15-year-old Brooklyn resident Kenzo Othoniel described the session as "really fun, very educational and I think it could help a lot of people."
