BCSO plunges ahead with dive grant

SANDPOINT — The Bonner County Sheriff’s Office is seeking a Homeland Security grant to bolster its dive team’s capabilities and credentials.

The $18,300 grant will be used to pay for an assortment of dive gear and elevate the team’s status to a Federal Emergency Management Administration Type II public safety dive team.

The county is seeking “revision” funding through the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security — a pool of unused federal grant funding that was not utilized by counties throughout the state.

The county began pursuing the grant on the suggestion of Brig. Gen. William Shawver of the Idaho National Guard, Sheriff Daryl Wheeler said.

“He came up and explained some of the money becoming available and we talked about some of the needs for Bonner County,” said Wheeler.

The grant would pay for an array of equipment such as lift bags for underwater recoveries, a metal detector, and miscellaneous scuba gear such as dive computers, spotlights and air hose.

“We’re ready to go if they fund it,” said Undersheriff Bob Bussey. “There’s no cash match, no in-kind match or any requirement on the county’s part other than fulfilling the timelines for the money to be spent.”

Bussey said the sheriff’s office has spent the last two years implementing the team’s standard operation protocols and has utilized $22,000 in federal funding to convert a johnboat into a dive vessel and acquire equipment.

“We’re pretty close to getting there,” Bussey said of the Type II certification.

Bussey said the certification will open the team up to additional grant and training opportunities.

Bonner County commissioners agreed to endorse the grant request after obtaining confirmation that it would not conflict with other pending grants at the state level.

“There’s definitely a need for it,” said Commissioner Mike Nielsen.