Stevens County Sheriff’s Dive Team

425 N Hwy 395

Colville, WA 99114

History

Stevens County Sheriff’s Dive Team serves the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies with underwater search, rescue and recovery operations in Stevens County and elsewhere as directed.  Originally organized in 1961 by Sheriff Albert E. Holter as the Sheriff’s Underwater Rescue and Recovery Unit, the team has gone through several organizational changes to meet the needs of its time.  

Because SAR diving is a physically demanding activity in an environment that varies greatly, the Stevens County Sheriff’s Dive Team trains throughout the year.  Operational diving environments include evidence recovery, wreck diving, deep water diving, night diving, cold water diving, ice diving, boat operations, multiple dive requirements and more.  

Stevens County Sheriff’s Dive Team (SCSDT) was established in April 2011 by Sheriff Kendle Allen to meet the increasing underwater rescue and recovery needs of Stevens County.  Sheriff Kendle Allen appointed Commissioned Officers Master Diver William Emily and Dive Master Wayne Walls as Team Captains and Deputy (Diver) Jason Foster was appointed as SCSDT’s Liaison Officer.

Stevens County Sheriff’s Dive Team and the recreational diving club Tri County Divers sponsors beginning and advance diving courses during the summer.   Certifications are granted through nationally recognized organizations such as PADI, NAUI and SSI.

SCSDT Members

As of December 31, 2011 the Stevens County Sheriff’s Dive Team has nineteen volunteer members.  Member diving certifications arrange from open water diver to Master Divers and Dive Master Instructors.  Member submit an application to the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office, pass a criminal background check and have final approval of the Sheriff. 

Training

SCSDT training program meets three basic requirements:

1:  Train competent and safe divers,
2:  Train divers to work as a SAR team,
3:  Train to dive in Stevens County.

Mission Preparedness

The Stevens County Sheriff’s Dive Team is registered with Washington State Department of Emergency Management, meeting WAC 118-04 Emergency Worker Program and RCW 38.52 Emergency Management requirements.  SCSDT is able to respond to emergency underwater environments in Stevens County and Washington State as requested.  All divers provide and maintain at their expense their personal diving equipment as recommended by the Code of Federal Regulations Title 46.197.200 US Coast Guard Commercial Diving Operations.

Meetings

SCSDT holds regularly scheduled meetings at 7:00PM, on the third Tuesday of each month at the Stevens County Sheriff’s Ambulance conference room.  Anyone interrested in joining can call the Stevens County Sheriff's Department at 509-684-5296.