Vancouver, BC Police – Marine & Port Patrols
Situation
The Celebration of Light is the longest‑running offshore musical fireworks competition in the world. Every summer over three nights, three companies representing three different countries perform a fireworks display synchronized to music over English Bay.
Hundreds of boats enter the bay each night of the competition, creating significant safety hazards for boaters and the Vancouver Police Department’s Marine Squad.
Problem
The Marine Squad had to slowly navigate among hundreds of tightly spaced boats and use battery‑powered megaphones that placed them and boaters at risk as they attempted to enforce exclusion zones and broadcast warnings and instructions that could be clearly heard and understood over engine and fireworks noise.
“Communicating with boaters across water has always presented a challenge for police. Normal loudspeaker broadcasts dissipate in the wind and quickly become ineffective.” Sgt. Lindsey Houghton, Vancouver, BC PD
Solution
The Vancouver Police Department procured an LRAD system that was first used by the Marine Squad during a Celebration of Light competition.
“LRAD is a very effective public address system. There are hundreds of uses for this device that can communicate with tens of thousands of people.”
“With a push of a button, the Marine Squad was able to effectively communicate to the hundreds of boaters and motor vessel operators that were out on the waters of English Bay to watch the fireworks.” Sgt. Lindsey Houghton, Vancouver, BC PD
LRAD is the Communication System of Choice for law enforcement, public safety, and defense departments around the world.
Unlike bullhorns and vehicle PA systems that disperse sound in all directions, LRAD’s proprietary audio technology focuses sound in a 30° beam while substantially reducing sound levels behind the device and in surrounding areas.
Long Range Acoustic Devices are saving lives during everyday duties and escalated risk operations.
