When trouble surfaces on the water in Miami Beach, the Marine Patrol is trained to drown it out.
On Wednesday, only NBC 6 was on board during the Citizens Police Academy. Tight, high-speed maneuvers are used in drug interdictions and to stop unruly boaters or jet skiers.
The officers in Marine Patrol and the fleet of vessels are responsible for 81 miles of water off the coast, in canals and on the bay. They also patrol 1,900 waterfront homes.
"We're covering the oceanside to bayside to Miami Beach," Officer Larry Marreo said.
Marine Patrol also has a dive team that recovers evidence thrown into the waters used during murders and burglaries.
From the dive team to dogs, students in the academy also met Miami Beach's K-9 Unit, and saw the special officers in action firsthand.
The dogs go through at least 500 hours of training.
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The K-9's form a unique bond with their handler and are cross-trained to apprehend and sniff out drugs and explosives. Their sense of scent is 500 to 1,000 times stronger than people.
"For the work that you put into these dogs, the bonding as a handler with the dog, and then going out doing the type of work that we do, that ultimately is going to save a life of another handler," said Officer Alex llaneras.
Through the Citizens Police Academy, NBC 6 also went behind-the-scenes with the Miami Beach Police CSI Unit and the 911 Dispatch Center.
