Big River Rescue and Recovery Dive Team

04/19/2026

Having reached out to two State Senators and one State Representative, we get no support to draft a bill to give volunteer Public Safety Divers line of Duty death survivor benefits.

Full time first responding agencies are covered but reach out to volunteers because what we do is High Risk, Low Frequency events and as so, funds are not allocated to ensure training time or meet equipment needs and maintenance.

Volunteer divers pay for their training and equipment which generally is NOT deductible. Thus the reason for scarcity of service.

Generally, First responding agency governments not only ask for volunteers but refuse to offer any operational funding for volunteer organizations.

Frustrating but a fact of life.

04/19/2026

I am honored and humbled when divers from other Public Safety Diver teams ask for advice on techniques.

Always willing to help other PSD operators to be safer and share my experiences.

Remember always conduct a site evaluation to determine Risk Benefit , AND to remember that rule number 1 is to avoid becoming victim number 2.

02/16/2026

02/16/2026

I would like to extend my appreciation for the dedication of the members of Big River Rescue and Recovery Dive Team.

The team was founded in JANUARY 2011 at the request of a local police department after local first responding agenciencies disbanded agency dive teams.

With two major rivers and multiple bodies of water, the founding members recognized the value of this asset to first responding agencies.

The 501c3 team was established and continues to serve on a volunteer basis. The members follow NFPA standards and have dedicated hundreds of hours serving Illinois and Iowa first responding agencies.

07/26/2025

Many Thanks to team members responding to another tragic situation on the Mississippi. I would name them all, but they are members because they care about OUR mission to serve which goes beyond that. Multiple agencies working together to put closure on the situation. The dedication of the fire, police, DNR, and volunteer agencies was impressive.

Thanks to our colleagues from Christian Ministries SAR team though they will not see this, as former students, we keep a close connection and cooperative relationship.

One of our primary divers, Ben Wilson , has great knowledge of the river bottom in that area. As such, he splashed to search for the victim with fuĺ suport of responders.

We express sincere condolences to the family of the victim. I assure you, from our relationship with the responders, paid and unpaid volunteers, share this feeling.

We strongly urge our community to respect the power of the Mighty Miss and wear floatation when possible.

01/02/2025

Huge thank you to Valley Construction, Rock Island, IL. They have committed to purchasing a haz mat dry suit for our team. Since we are a 501 (c)3 team, we do not charge first responding agencies for our services.

Local municipalities do not budget for our services.
Our team has historically received funds from TC Energy to support equipment needs ; QC AREA CHIEFs of Police who supplied a grant for full face masks during formation of the team, Scott County Sheriff for helping with start up costs, Wilson Construction who funded legal fees, and Poulos and Associates who funded equipment maintenance and Instructor services.

The Team is primarily funded by team members supplying their own equipment to the extent they can afford. THANK YOU to those who dedicate time and $ To provide needed services

12/30/2024

Just when you think it's gonna be a quiet New Year....... Iowa department of criminal investigation reaches out

11/28/2024

I am thankful for the dedication of the divers and support personnel of this team. Since 21 January 2011 these men and women have voluntarily trained and responded together to provide recovery services to first responding agencies.

10/01/2024

Fun week.

MONDAY Train with EMPD.

Tue- teach at U Iowa.
Wed- teach Augustana College

Sunday. Nilbmahs finished PSD TRAINING
Brianna Renee finishes Rescue Diving and Begins PSD training

Monday train with DPD AND Bettendorf PD so our surface support personnel / Sarah Smith, and Sarah Shamblin, could practice as comm, tenders, and dive scene supervisors. Da Merch. ISP Ret, was present to discuss preferred techniques for evidence Recovery.

Thanks to DPD and BPD for helping us better serve you.

02/28/2024