Departments submerge in water drills

Shelton (WTNH) - The recent mid-air collision over New York's Hudson River is a somber reminder of how an ordinary day can change quickly. Everyday emergency crews prepare for days like that and today in Fairfield County responders converged on the Housatonic River for a special drill.

It was an exciting day by the water for a Shelton toddler; a perfect opportunity to practice the sign for "helicopter" as Fairfield Police "Eagle One" dropped divers into the Housatonic River for a mutual aid drill .

"We do like to come out here for the multi-jurisdictional training so we can see what they're all about and maybe learn something from them," said Sgt. Gilleran of the Bridgeport Police Department.

It's also a perfect opportunity to give residents an added sense of security. David Gombis lives right on the water and has witnessed more than one accident on this river.

"It's good to know that they have the experience to get the people if something happens," said Gombis.

"We luckily have never had an incident where we actually had to use the helicopter but the potential is always there," said David Peck of the Fairfield Police Department. "I would say probably several times in a course of a year the dive teams are activated especially in the larger cities."

Drills like these are so important, many of the departments, like Fairfield county, actually do water training about 25 times a year.

Because when it counts, divers say having these skills, and their brothers backing them up, is critical.

"It's great to know that guys from Shelton and Fairfield pretty much have the same training as we do," said Lt. Steve Lougal of the Bridgeport Police Department. "So if something goes wrong I know I can count on them just like I can count on my brother-officers in my own department."

Each department pooled their resources to make today happen including money for overtime and equipment. Another mutual aid drill will likely be planned for late fall and early winter for training on the ice.