Dive Team
Video Transcript
I’m Lieutenant Gaddy with Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. I’m dive team commander. We are here today doing our monthly training at the South Charleston Rec Center. Uh we have a new diver that we’re trying to get certified.
I’m Pete Corbett. I am the training officer at the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department on the civilian side. I’m a public safety instructor. It was uh commission brought in to work with the sheriff’s department’s dive team for safety protocol equipment training so that they can effectively respond to emergencies necessary throughout the state and specifically in the Kanawha Valley. We train in the pool here obviously. We have a uh rock quarry that we go to often in Ohio that’s just for divers and we also train in the Kanawha River. That’s where we mostly operate as uh members of the dive team. We are mainly used for evidence recovery. Uh someone throws a piece of evidence in the river, we are the ones that usually go and find it.
Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team
The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team is a highly trained, specialized unit tasked with underwater operations in a variety of challenging environments. These deputies are certified divers equipped with advanced gear and training, allowing them to safely and effectively conduct missions in rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water throughout the region.
One of the primary responsibilities of the Dive Team is the recovery of evidence that has been intentionally discarded or lost in the water. From firearms and vehicles to smaller personal items, the team works diligently to locate and preserve crucial evidence that may aid in criminal investigations or prosecutions.
In addition to evidence recovery, the Dive Team is also called upon for the recovery of deceased individuals in drowning incidents, accidents, or criminal cases. These recoveries are handled with the utmost professionalism, sensitivity, and respect for the victims and their families. The team’s work is often critical in bringing closure to families and supporting the broader mission of justice.
Their commitment, technical skill, and willingness to face physically demanding and emotionally challenging situations make the Dive Team an essential asset to the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office and the community they serve.