On September 25th, the International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists held their annual awards dinner at the Hyatt Fair Lakes in Fairfax, VA.
The awards which recognized various teams and an individual are listed below. Supporting documents follow at the end of this message.
Captain Dale Appel, Boone County Water Rescue (KY)
The Robert G. Teather Award
For lifelong contributions to the safety of the Public Safety Divers.
Broward Sheriff’s Office Dive Team (FL)
The Fin of Perseverance
The search for Matthew Sterling
Broward Sheriff’s Office Dive Team (FL)
The Specialized Fin Award
The Most Technical Recovery; The search for evidence related to the murder of Sgt. Chris Reyka
Fishers Police Department (IN)
The Silver Fin Award
Most Improved Dive Team
Elk Grove Village Fire Protection District (IL)
The Diverse Fin Award
The most unique team funding, use of “foreign fire insurance” funds
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (FL)
The Dramatic Fin Award
The Most Dramatic Marine Operation, recovery below the Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Lake St. Louis Fire Protection District – Water Rescue Task Force (MO)
The Fabulous Fin Award
The most spectacular water rescue, the rescue of Erica Strickland
The International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists hosts an annual membership meeting and public safety diver conference. The 2008 conference will conclude on Sunday, September 28th.
This year’s conference had more than 150 people in attendance representing 30 states and 3 countries.
Captain Dale Appel, Boone County Water Rescue (KY)
The Robert G. Teather Award
For lifelong contributions to the safety of the Public Safety Divers
In 1967, Dale Appel started a water rescue/recovery program in northern Kentucky after his best friend and his friend's father-in-law drowned in the Ohio River. Dale didn't want other people to suffer through what he had - days of waiting for the bodies to surface before they could be recovered. At that time there were no dive teams, and dragging rigs were the primary means for recoveries. Boats were borrowed fishing boats or jon boats. Medical personnel weren’t even thought of.
A year later Dale became a certified diver and was later certified as a dive master under PADI. He started the Boone County Special Evidence Collection Team for the underwater recovery of weapons, vehicles and evidence of crimes. He took over the auxiliary police and was appointed Civil Defense director before the team, now Boone County Water Rescue, became part of Boone County Emergency Management.
Capt. Appel then created in-house-trained underwater rescue/recovery teams. He created a public relations program for schools and community groups, promoting water safety and the wearing of life jackets. He began the first northern Kentucky water rescue boat patrol. He put three boats on the Ohio River, and had three more boats for ponds and smaller rivers.
Certified EMTs were added for emergency pre-hospital care and for medical and trauma services on water and land. All EMTs are Kentucky and national certified and are crucial in maintaining a medically safe environment for divers.
And diving is Capt. Appel’s passion - and safety for the diver has been, and always will be, paramount. Over the years, he has worked hard to ensure the safety of his divers and, by extension, the safety of all divers.
In addition to Boone County Water Rescue divers being trained as public safety divers under Dive Rescue International, Inc., they are also put through an extensive in-house training program. Upon completion of both programs, the divers can then function as rescue and recovery divers for the team.
Capt. Appel has designed and teaches drowning reconstruction and search techniques for rescue and fire departments, and acts as a consultant for other teams. Over the years, Capt. Appel has upgraded the team’s diving capabilities to the highest levels, using diving equipment compared to the U.S. Navy.
With Capt. Appel leading the charge, equipment has been modified to a level of capability beyond that which the manufacturer designed. Capt. Appel has inspired other agencies to improve their equipment to the latest technologies available to the search and rescue community. He has generously passed along his knowledge.
The policies Capt. Appel has developed for the team and procedures for diving have greatly reduced risks by incorporating a high level of safety using the latest in equipment. BCWR divers’ safety has been improved with the addition of technical equipment, surface supplied EXO 26 full face mask systems with cameras attached to the diver’s hat, extremely low lux underwater drop cameras with full communications, and diver cameras that also transmit to the command center, boats and diver supervisors. The modified side scan sonar not only reduces the risk to divers but has made recovery efforts faster and reduces the cost of operations. Even with budget cuts the team continues to find ways to push the technological limits in order to enhance the safety of the divers.
Capt. Appel also developed a drowning reconstruction course for Eastern (Kentucky) University and teaches the class each September. His drowning reconstruction reduces the amount of time the divers are underwater and exposed to the elements. He has been asked to reconstruct and search for drowning victims in Tennessee, Nebraska, Colorado, Ohio and Indiana and, at each site, the divers’ safety was paramount.
BCWR team members have been long-time members of the IADRS and have supported teams nationwide through the exchange of information and resources.
Forty-one years after Dale Appel decided one dark day to start a water rescue service, the Boone County Water Rescue team is now referred to as one of the best public safety dive teams in North America. Led by Capt. Appel, they have been pioneers of water rescue and have developed, tested and revised many of the techniques used today by many water rescue and recovery teams, resulting in a safer underwater environment for divers.
Broward Sheriff’s Office Dive Team (FL)
The Fin of Perseverance
The search for Matthew Sterling
The Broward Sheriff's Office Dive Rescue Team was tasked with locating a possible missing person that was last seen driving his vehicle in rural Broward County on US 27 which runs along the eastern boundary of the Florida Everglades. Without a last seen point and no witnesses, the dive team started scanning area canals utilizing side scan sonar to identify potential vehicles in the canal. To our surprise and dismay over 50 barrels containing potentially Hazardous Materials, car parts, farm debris, miscellaneous junk and 140 vehicles were found in just a 3 mile stretch of canal. Realizing the magnitude of the problem now facing the dive team, a plan was devised to use underwater drop cameras on each vehicle in an attempt to identify the missing vehicle as a first step in a recovery effort.
After several close calls and several months of work, the missing vehicle was found with the driver still seat belted into the vehicle. The vehicle was found leaning against a bridge piling in an area the victims family stated that he would not have traveled. The dive team utilizing underwater video equipment documented the vehicle before recovery of the body, lift bags were used to vertically lift the vehicle so team members could drag the vehicle to the canal back where it was lifted from the water.
The dive team then developed a plan to recover all the vehicles in the canal. A massive coordination of assets was set into motion to recover as many vehicles as possible in one day by the Broward Sheriff's Office Dive Team and in February 2007 recovered 31 vehicles. The Broward Sheriff's Office Dive Team and has continued their effort to recover vehicles on a weekly basis and to date the dive team recovered over 211 vehicles since February 2007. Photo at: http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/89032
The awards which recognized various teams and an individual are listed below. Supporting documents follow at the end of this message.
Captain Dale Appel, Boone County Water Rescue (KY)
The Robert G. Teather Award
For lifelong contributions to the safety of the Public Safety Divers.
Broward Sheriff’s Office Dive Team (FL)
The Fin of Perseverance
The search for Matthew Sterling
Broward Sheriff’s Office Dive Team (FL)
The Specialized Fin Award
The Most Technical Recovery; The search for evidence related to the murder of Sgt. Chris Reyka
Fishers Police Department (IN)
The Silver Fin Award
Most Improved Dive Team
Elk Grove Village Fire Protection District (IL)
The Diverse Fin Award
The most unique team funding, use of “foreign fire insurance” funds
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (FL)
The Dramatic Fin Award
The Most Dramatic Marine Operation, recovery below the Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Lake St. Louis Fire Protection District – Water Rescue Task Force (MO)
The Fabulous Fin Award
The most spectacular water rescue, the rescue of Erica Strickland
The International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists hosts an annual membership meeting and public safety diver conference. The 2008 conference will conclude on Sunday, September 28th.
This year’s conference had more than 150 people in attendance representing 30 states and 3 countries.
Captain Dale Appel, Boone County Water Rescue (KY)
The Robert G. Teather Award
For lifelong contributions to the safety of the Public Safety Divers
In 1967, Dale Appel started a water rescue/recovery program in northern Kentucky after his best friend and his friend's father-in-law drowned in the Ohio River. Dale didn't want other people to suffer through what he had - days of waiting for the bodies to surface before they could be recovered. At that time there were no dive teams, and dragging rigs were the primary means for recoveries. Boats were borrowed fishing boats or jon boats. Medical personnel weren’t even thought of.
A year later Dale became a certified diver and was later certified as a dive master under PADI. He started the Boone County Special Evidence Collection Team for the underwater recovery of weapons, vehicles and evidence of crimes. He took over the auxiliary police and was appointed Civil Defense director before the team, now Boone County Water Rescue, became part of Boone County Emergency Management.
Capt. Appel then created in-house-trained underwater rescue/recovery teams. He created a public relations program for schools and community groups, promoting water safety and the wearing of life jackets. He began the first northern Kentucky water rescue boat patrol. He put three boats on the Ohio River, and had three more boats for ponds and smaller rivers.
Certified EMTs were added for emergency pre-hospital care and for medical and trauma services on water and land. All EMTs are Kentucky and national certified and are crucial in maintaining a medically safe environment for divers.
And diving is Capt. Appel’s passion - and safety for the diver has been, and always will be, paramount. Over the years, he has worked hard to ensure the safety of his divers and, by extension, the safety of all divers.
In addition to Boone County Water Rescue divers being trained as public safety divers under Dive Rescue International, Inc., they are also put through an extensive in-house training program. Upon completion of both programs, the divers can then function as rescue and recovery divers for the team.
Capt. Appel has designed and teaches drowning reconstruction and search techniques for rescue and fire departments, and acts as a consultant for other teams. Over the years, Capt. Appel has upgraded the team’s diving capabilities to the highest levels, using diving equipment compared to the U.S. Navy.
With Capt. Appel leading the charge, equipment has been modified to a level of capability beyond that which the manufacturer designed. Capt. Appel has inspired other agencies to improve their equipment to the latest technologies available to the search and rescue community. He has generously passed along his knowledge.
The policies Capt. Appel has developed for the team and procedures for diving have greatly reduced risks by incorporating a high level of safety using the latest in equipment. BCWR divers’ safety has been improved with the addition of technical equipment, surface supplied EXO 26 full face mask systems with cameras attached to the diver’s hat, extremely low lux underwater drop cameras with full communications, and diver cameras that also transmit to the command center, boats and diver supervisors. The modified side scan sonar not only reduces the risk to divers but has made recovery efforts faster and reduces the cost of operations. Even with budget cuts the team continues to find ways to push the technological limits in order to enhance the safety of the divers.
Capt. Appel also developed a drowning reconstruction course for Eastern (Kentucky) University and teaches the class each September. His drowning reconstruction reduces the amount of time the divers are underwater and exposed to the elements. He has been asked to reconstruct and search for drowning victims in Tennessee, Nebraska, Colorado, Ohio and Indiana and, at each site, the divers’ safety was paramount.
BCWR team members have been long-time members of the IADRS and have supported teams nationwide through the exchange of information and resources.
Forty-one years after Dale Appel decided one dark day to start a water rescue service, the Boone County Water Rescue team is now referred to as one of the best public safety dive teams in North America. Led by Capt. Appel, they have been pioneers of water rescue and have developed, tested and revised many of the techniques used today by many water rescue and recovery teams, resulting in a safer underwater environment for divers.
Broward Sheriff’s Office Dive Team (FL)
The Fin of Perseverance
The search for Matthew Sterling
The Broward Sheriff's Office Dive Rescue Team was tasked with locating a possible missing person that was last seen driving his vehicle in rural Broward County on US 27 which runs along the eastern boundary of the Florida Everglades. Without a last seen point and no witnesses, the dive team started scanning area canals utilizing side scan sonar to identify potential vehicles in the canal. To our surprise and dismay over 50 barrels containing potentially Hazardous Materials, car parts, farm debris, miscellaneous junk and 140 vehicles were found in just a 3 mile stretch of canal. Realizing the magnitude of the problem now facing the dive team, a plan was devised to use underwater drop cameras on each vehicle in an attempt to identify the missing vehicle as a first step in a recovery effort.
After several close calls and several months of work, the missing vehicle was found with the driver still seat belted into the vehicle. The vehicle was found leaning against a bridge piling in an area the victims family stated that he would not have traveled. The dive team utilizing underwater video equipment documented the vehicle before recovery of the body, lift bags were used to vertically lift the vehicle so team members could drag the vehicle to the canal back where it was lifted from the water.
The dive team then developed a plan to recover all the vehicles in the canal. A massive coordination of assets was set into motion to recover as many vehicles as possible in one day by the Broward Sheriff's Office Dive Team and in February 2007 recovered 31 vehicles. The Broward Sheriff's Office Dive Team and has continued their effort to recover vehicles on a weekly basis and to date the dive team recovered over 211 vehicles since February 2007. Photo at: http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/89032
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