Recreational Safety includes ATV / UTV Safety, Boat and Water Safety, Dive Team, Snowmobile Safety, and Water Patrol.
ATV / UTV / Snowmobile Education & Enforcement
The Sheriff’s Office has two snowmobiles, one quad-cab UTV with a rescue basket, and one ATV. These vehicles can be used for search and rescue as well as enforcement details, and assist with educational classes targeting safe operation of these recreational vehicles.
Dive Team
The Dive Team rescue and recovery duties are carried out by three patrol staff and three part-time special deputies who are all certified rescue divers. They are assisted by additional Sheriff’s personnel trained as dive team tenders, communications, and sonar. The Dive Team is trained for both open water and ice diving operations.
Water Patrol
Water Patrol duties are conducted by patrol deputies, part-time seasonal water patrol staff, and citizen water patrol volunteers who live on or near our waterways within Rice County. Our fleet consists of a variety of watercraft to assist us with calls ranging from holding ponds, streams, rivers, and lakes.