The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department is hosting a three-day rescue/dive training event. Dive Rescue International, Fort Collins, Colo., will be training public safety members in various aspects of dive team management, victim retrieval, underwater investigation, search patterns during drownings and rescue techniques over the next three days.

The program began this morning, with initial classroom training at the Kosciusko County Justice Building.

There are 14 officers participating in the training from not only Kosciusko County Sheriff’s and Warsaw Police departments but also Marion, Monticello and Detroit, Mich.

During the program questioned that face teams will be discussed: Can officers validate and confirm the teams direction and goals, can safety be maximized through the standardization of equipment and procedures? Course topics will be drowning, dive team organization and management, search patterns, scene evaluation, victim retrieval, service to the family, media and other agencies, vehicle accidents, underwater investigation, introduction to specialized equipment and field exercises.

Upon completion of the program, including in-water work, personnel will address several standards set for the technician level. Surface support personnel who complete the program will address the standards for the awareness and operations level.