How many other departments out there have them. I am looking to see some of the problems that have been encountered and how they were over come. The primary being funding. Any ideas for fundraisers?

Spokane City/County dive team is under the Sheriff's office training dept. We are all volunteers and supply our own gear. The county owns our truck and we have a limited number of radios, pagers and PFD's and helmets that can be issued to team members. We have tried and been unsuccessful in getting funding from the sheriff's office. We and all of the volunteer search and rescue teams are in the process of trying to become included in their annual budget. Till now we have relied on donations from the community and fund raising events to buy things for the teams (12 teams). It's a challenge.  As with anything we have had our fair share of volunteer issues...comes with volunteers. It's a shame thta happens.

BTalon333 says ...

 

Hello, I work for the Williamson County Sheriff's Office in Georgetown Texas, (30 min. North of Austin).  We have a part time Dive Team, we all work different areas in Patrol.  The Sheriff's Office pays for all our gear, we have a rescue one boat and a dive trailer for extra gear, tanks ect.  They pay for all training including dive cert for new guys who are not trained already.  We have problems with the amount of training we get.  The team started 12 years ago and one year we train once a month and other years we train as little as 3 times a year.  Money for training seems to be our biggest problem.  We dive with Auga mask and have top side coms. We recently purchased side scan sonar.  The team consists of two Lieutenants, two Sergeants and five Deputies. We recover 1 to 2 bodies a year and go on about 2 or 3 evidence recovery dives a year. Hope this information is helpful. If you have any questions please write. Good Luck and stay safe.    

aND THEY GET TO HANG ON THE BOAT, ON THE LAKE AND GET A TAN DURING THE SUMMER....LOL