ANNAPOLIS—The Anne Arundel County Fire Department, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, and the Baltimore City Fire Department have volunteered to assist the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) in their ongoing search for Philip Merrill who was reported missing Saturday, June 10, after his sailboat was found near Breezy Point in Calvert County.
The Anne Arundel County Fire Department has dispatched four personnel, one boat, and one side scan sonar to assist for the recovery efforts. The Baltimore City Fire Department has dispatched 18 personnel, one side scan sonar and one boat. The Anne Arundel County Police Department has dispatched a helicopter. The United States Coast Guard concluded their search support on Monday, June 12.
Currently, there are seven boats assisting with the recovery mission:
* 3 NRP boats and 1 Baltimore City boat are conducting surface searches;
* 1 NRP boat is conducting a side scan sonar search using NRP equipment;
* 1 NRP boat is conducting a side scan sonar search using Baltimore City Fire Department equipment; and,
* 1 Anne Arundel County Fire Department boat is conducting a side scan sonar search using Anne Arundel County equipment.
There are a number of civilian volunteers conducting surface searches, including representatives from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Additionally, aviation units from the NRP and Anne Arundel County Police Department are also being utilized today. Weather permitting, one helicopter from each organization will conduct two flights, each.
To date, approximately eighteen square miles of the over 100-square mile search area have been searched with the side scan sonar, a device used to scan the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay. DNR will release information as it becomes available. NRP will continue their recovery efforts until Mr. Merrill is found.