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rescues, with a check for $10,000 during a Public Servant Appreciation Dinner at the Soperton Masonic Lodge.
The Treutlen County Underwater Tactical Unit made up entirely of volunteers, is a specialized dive team dedicated to serving their community through underwater search and rescue operations. With 14 certified divers and two new members in training, the team provides critical emergency support when time, coordination, and technical skills are essential.
Formed less than a year ago, the unit was established to meet a local need. Before its creation, the nearest dive team was in Cedar Crossing, Georgia. Joseph Glenn, Deputy EMA Director for Treutlen County, leads the effort and trains all new recruits personally. “Each individual has invested time and money to get this up and running,” Glenn said. “We’ve created a team of first responders ready to respond to underwater emergencies.”
Glenn has been diving since 2006 and teaching diving since 2010. His extensive background has shaped the rigorous standards now expected of all team members. “I want our team to be prepared to operate at the highest level,” he said. “I have active divers— they may not always have the time, but they have the dives.”
All members are required to hold at least an open water certification and then pursue additional credentials such as rescue diver and public safety diver. While the county funds advanced certifications, each diver pays for their initial training. “We’re working hard to obtain grants to help fund gear and training,” Glenn said.
Glenn’s connection to water runs deep. Raised near Lake Myers, he began water skiing at age four and enjoyed being on the water every chance he got. While he was attending Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) in Tifton, Georgia, a friend introduced him to scuba diving. Originally planning to become a marine biologist, Glenn changed course but never lost his passion for the water. He later led the Tift County Dive Team and tried to establish a similar program in Bulloch County before joining Treutlen County EMA.
The Treutlen County Dive Team has already responded to six calls this year. Their responsibilities include body recovery, boating accidents, and evidence retrieval. “Nine times out of ten, we’re called for a body recovery,” Glenn noted. The team is composed of deputies, EMA staff, firefighters, a paramedic, and an EMT.
Dive responses are carefully coordinated. When a call is received, leadership gathers details and decides whether to place the team on standby. Once standby is confirmed, dive members confirm availability, and the team gears up at EMA headquarters before heading to the scene. Once on-site, a staging area is established, and a briefing is held to prepare divers for the mission.
The team’s reputation is growing. Neighboring counties such as Laurens, Dodge, Wheeler, and Toombs now recognize their capability and readiness.
“Each dive is significant to me,” Glenn said. “There was one mission that really showed how far we’ve come. Seeing the team work together efficiently and professionally proved we were an asset to the community. In even the most tragic situations, we do whatever we can to bring closure to families.”
To ensure the team is prepared for any environment, training is conducted in Florida springs, local dive spots, and the Florida Keys. Glenn holds his divers to high standards to be a team that can perform at its best.
Although funding has remained a challenge, this $10,000 donation from the Harmony Lodge will help to further the team’s ability to serve the community. “We’re here to help,” Glenn said. “I just wish more people knew that we’re here if they ever need us.”
