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By Jesse Fraga
The Macon Telegraph

BIBB COUNTY, Ga. 鈥� The Bibb County Fire Department鈥檚 rescue divers were given access to new scuba equipment which they hope will help them save drowning victims, officials announced Tuesday.

At least three people died after drowning at Amerson River Park and Lake Tobesofkee between June and July this year, including victims ages 19, 26 and 33 years old.

Some dive members, including Casey Boothe, noticed deterioration and holes on their equipment.

鈥淪ome of them get holes, rips and tears when you鈥檙e diving,鈥� Boothe said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it鈥檒l help us get (victims) out faster, but it鈥檒l definitely help us do our jobs a lot better.鈥�

The Macon-Bibb Law Enforcement Foundation gave a $7,500 grant to the Bibb County Sheriff鈥檚 Office to fund new gear they will lend to the fire department as needed. The foundation pays for items outside of the county budget such as some training, technology and equipment for the sheriff鈥檚 office.

The sheriff鈥檚 office will not use the gear because it doesn鈥檛 have a dive team, but it will replace a 鈥渟ubstantial portion鈥� of the fire department鈥檚 old gear, Sheriff David Davis announced at a press conference at Amerson River Park Tuesday.

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Sarah Roebuck

鈥淭ypically the fire department is the first call ... along with emergency medical services,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淭hey have the rescue boats, so ... they are going to come first with all the dive equipment right on the spot.鈥�

The sheriff鈥檚 office had a dive team over a decade ago but retired it, according to Davis.

Since then, some sheriff鈥檚 deputies have received volunteer dive training used for investigative purposes. But only the fire department will use the new tools for emergency rescue efforts.

鈥淓ven when the sheriff鈥檚 office had a dive team, it was more for evidence recovery because there is certainly added training that needs to be done for a rescue dive team,鈥� Davis said.

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