What are the responsibilities and job description for the Dive Team Volunteer position at Crow Wing, County of (MN)?
The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office is accepting applications for certified divers who are willing to volunteer their time and expertise to aid in the rescue/recovery of persons who have gone missing in the water. Crow Wing County has a variety of lakes and rivers. Divers may be called upon to dive in rivers with low visibility and strong currents. Rescue/recovery efforts happen year-round and the Dive Team is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, regardless of weather. Members must be willing to participate in cold-water/through-the-ice dives. Divers will also assist in the recovery of evidence and documentation of potential crime scenes utilizing recorded video. Divers may also be called upon to investigate submerged vehicles and in some cases, assist in their recovery.
Members must be willing to commit a minimum of 3 hours per month to hands-on training and rescue/recovery exercises. Our divers are on-site, standing by for safety at events such as the Brainerd Jaycee’s Ice Fishing Extravaganza and the World’s Largest Ice Carousel (Ice Fest) held in Morrison County. Most activities occur within Crow Wing County, but there may also be the need to assist other counties through mutual aid.
Because of the potential for dangerous situations inherently involved with the sport of diving, our team members need to develop a level of trust with one another. We encourage all potential applicants to contact the Minnesota School of Diving, located in Brainerd, to participate in some fun dives with current members of our dive team. This allows applicants to get to know our team members and allows our members to evaluate the applicant’s suitability for the team.
Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for membership on the team:
- 21 years of age or older
- Have a valid driver's license
- Advanced open water certification or above
- Be sponsored by a current dive team member
- Must supply personal diving gear
- Successful completion of a Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office volunteer background screening.
- Knowledge of the geography of Crow Wing County
- Ability to think clearly and act quickly in emergency situations
- Ability to cope with a variety of stressful situations
- Prior volunteer experience
- Training in EMS, Search and Rescue, Firefighting, etc.
- Ability to work together as a team
- Have an interest in serving the community
