Sheriff’s Dive Team ready to respond to underwater emergencies

By Nicole Levine

The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office is composed of many departments that are dedicated to keeping Maine residents safe. The Sheriff’s Dive Team is part of that as an asset used to protect the community and the waters of Cumberland County.

The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Dive Team is made
up of sheriff's deputies and Windham Police Department
officers who are highly trained and available to respond
to water emergencies and situations in the Lakes Region
of Maine and other nearby communities.
SUBMITTED PHOTO 

The team is composed of seven members from the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office and the Windham Police Department. Each member is continuously training and seeking specialty diving certifications to improve their skills and maintain the safety of inhabitants of the county.

The Dive Team is available to respond 24/7 for any operation. Their responsibilities include search and rescue missions, evidence search and recovery, and crime scene documentation. This department is typically utilized around four to five times a year for underwater emergencies. The department is also involved in community programs such as the Polar Dip that takes place on Raymond Beach during the winter.

The Dive Team takes pride in focusing on the importance of public and diver safety. The team takes important precautions keeping all divers’ skills refreshed by having each member undergo eight hours of training monthly, throughout each year. This training consists of practice dives in lakes, rivers, or the ocean in varying conditions such as low visibility, deep water dives, or ice diving.

Although the Dive Team takes all necessary precautions to keep the public and members of their team safe, there are still dangers associated with this position. Divers are at risk of the bends, also referred to as decompression sickness. This is where the sudden change in pressure that occurs when diving in deep water causes bubbles to form in the bloodstream.

Other injuries to the ears and lungs are also a risk to consider when diving.

“The Sheriff's Office Dive Team is committed to the safety of its divers and operates based on the most current and up-to-date practices. Diving is not for everyone, as you need to be calm under stress and comfortable working in low/ no light or extremely cramped or confined conditions,” says Sgt. Marc Marion, the current Commander of the Cumberland County Dive Team.

The dive team uses various types of equipment, which helps enable them to complete their assignments. This department has a boat which is located at the Windham Fire Department and is ready to respond to any water-related emergency.

The dive team also uses AGA masks, which have a two-way radio with the ability to communicate with team members on the surface. This mask provides a positive pressure which prevents the mask from fogging, to increase visibility during dives. Additionally, it is less likely to freeze in cold weather, and provides protection from cold temperatures for the diver’s full face. Dry suits are also worn, which allow the team to dive in cold weather throughout the winter.

Marion, the Dive Team’s commander, is a 22-year veteran of the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office. Other positions that he currently holds in addition to the Dive Team are as the Commander of the Sheriff’s Emergency Services Unit and he also serves as a Patrol Sergeant.

He has been a member of the Dive Team since 2008 and has served as a public safety diver since then. In addition to his leadership position on the dive team, he is responsible for various administrative tasks, documentation and training for the team.

“It is my responsibility to make sure the team is ready for any public safety emergency 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year long in any weather condition.” Marion said.

In 2019, the Dive Team was called to an emergency for the recovery of a vehicle and victim that drove into a river. The location and circumstances made this a very complicated mission, Marion said. The river current had a stronger pull than usual, and water levels were higher than normal. This was due to an influx of rain, and the location of the accident being close to a dam.

Multiple dive teams including the one associated with the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office were called in for extra assistance.

“This operation was technical and required the complete collaboration of the team to complete the mission.” Marion said.

The Dive Team is one of the many essential units that make up the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department and Marion said that through their hard work and dedication, they strive to keep the community and the waters of Maine safe. <