GENERAL INFORMATION - About the Team

INTRODUCTION

The Lee’s Summit Underwater Rescue & Recovery Team (LSURR) began working with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department in 1966 after a tragic drowning at a local lake.  Several area divers created the team and began training together to conduct organized body searches in local lakes and ponds. Since that time, LSURR expanded its capability in searches, services and techniques.  In 1988, LSURR obtained a lease of county land across the street from the Jackson County Sheriff Department, where we built our own building for housing the most advanced Dive Rescue & Recovery Team in our area.

WHO WE ARE

LSURR is a professionally trained, all volunteer, 501C(3) Not-for-Profit Corporation. No member receives payment for his or her work, not even the administrators or the Board of Directors.

LSURR is comprised of 15 public safety rescue divers, and 6 non-divers acting in a support function. All divers obtain professional Public Safety Diving (PSD) certification.  We have two certified diving instructors and three more working towards diving instructor certification.  New divers and support are trained up to standards quickly through intensive training during a probationary period. The Team maintains an Equal Opportunity Employment policy of non-discrimination when hiring volunteers.

WHAT WE DO

LSURR performs dive operations in all types of water, ranging from rivers, ponds, lakes, creeks, and quarries.  The subject matter of an operation could be:

Operations are performed for law enforcement and fire agencies in the five -state regions, in all kinds of weather conditions.  LSURR works closely with the requesting agency to coordinate any operation.  By policy, the team will not search for a missing person or evidence unless contacted by the local law enforcement agency handling the case. 

During LSURR’s 39 years in existence, we have performed hundreds of operations throughout the Midwest region. In 1990 alone, the team rescued over 200 people trapped or threatened by flood waters within the Little Blue River basin area in Kansas City. The team has been commended by the Mayor of Kansas City for outstanding achievement in the field of underwater recovery.

As a result of our many successful searches, LSURR members are called to provide witness testimony relating to the dive operation.

For the general public, we recover personal property (such as lost keys, wallets, etc.), and perform water safety programs for schools, church groups, and civic groups.

PROGRAM FUNDING

LSURR receives much of its funding from public donations, corporate donations, grants, The United Way, and from the Jackson County Missouri Legislature.  The Team does not charge law and fire agencies for our specialized work.  However the general public is asked to give a minimum donation for property recovery to offset the cost of the search operation. No charge is ever requested for giving water safety presentations.

In addition to covering yearly administrative expenses, much of the funding received is used to maintain our inventory of equipment, and to purchase new operating equipment.  For example, we collected enough donations in 2001 to purchase two additional AGA MKII Full Face masks (total of four now in service), and a side-scan sonar unit.  Also for 2001, a generous grant from the Truman Heartland Foundation assisted our purchase of six wireless underwater communications units (OTS SSB-2010’s). This new equipment gives an added amount of safety to our divers during hazardous operations.  But as you can see, it takes a large amount of financial assistance to maintain a fully operational, state-of-the-art, safe team.

OUR ACTIVITIES   

LSURR is very active in the communities surrounding the Kansas City metropolitan area. On average, LSURR is working on dive operations. Public Relations events, training or in team meetings one-third of the year, or on average about 2 days a week.  Whether they are providing water safety programs for kindergartens and schools, speaking to civic groups about the Team, or diving for evidence for a law enforcement agency, LSURR still encourages members to maintain a healthy balance with their regular paying jobs and families.

TARGET AUDIENCE  

Our services are provided: