Water Rescue Team

The Sheriff's Office maintains a full-response Water Rescue Team. All divers are permanently assigned to other full-time duties; they're also subject to 24-hour call-out for all Clackamas County water-related incidents.

This highly trained team responds to rescues, body recoveries, underwater evidence searches, vehicle recoveries and submerged hazardous materials.

The team consists of a lieutenant, two sergeants, a detective and 11 deputies.

 

Partners in rescue

The team participates in the Clackamas County Interagency Water Consortium -- which also includes personnel from CCSO's Marine Unit, Clackamas County Fire District # 1, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, the Lake Oswego Fire Department, the Sandy Fire Department and American Medical Response.

In-depth training

Water Rescue Team members are trained in SCUBA, underwater investigations, white-water rescue and high-angle and technical water rescue.

All divers must complete Dive Rescue I certification to the Master Diver level through Dive Rescue International.

Team members are also required to certify as swift-water rescue technicians and train in rope rescue. Most team members are also certified First Responders, and one is an Emergency Medical Technician.

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