TOLLAND COUNTY DIVE TEAM
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Dive Call - June 10, 2001 Willimantic, Connecticut
Lauter Park on the Natchaug River

     On Sunday June 10, 2001 at 1210 PM the Tolland County Dive Team was requested to the town of Willimantic for a reported Drowning at Lauter park on the Natchaug River.  It just so happened that the dive team was assembled in Crystal Lake for their monthly drill.  The training exercise had just been completed and the team was enjoying their annual cookout when the call came for them to respond.  The team packed up and relocated to Willimantic.  RD219(Norm Meikle) and RD519(Lowell Karpuska) were the first dive team members to arrive.  RD519 assumed dive command while RD219 suited up and began checking the area.  Eventually other divers arrived on scene and a large sweep of the river was performed.  The victim was found in approximately 10 feet of water 15 feet from shore on the first sweep of the river.  The dive team members were complimented by Commander Morrison for their efforts in the speedy recovery of the victim.

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Dive Team members participating in the operation were as follow:

COUNTY COORDINATOR
HQ-2 James Preuss Sr. - Bolton

DIVE COMMANDERS
RD-19 William Morrision - West Stafford
RD-119 Craig Ardel - South Coventry
RD-219 Norman Meikle - Eagleville
RD-319 Rob Chernuk - Ashford
RD-419 Alan Arel - Ashford
RD-519 Lowell Karpuska - Willington - Command
RD-619 Eric Gilchrist - Eagleville
RD-719 John Roache - Andover
RD-1019 Jennifer Sharpe-Coles - Crystal Lake - Information Officer

TEAM MEMBERS
Support - William Jordan - Eagleville
Support - Eric Beaulieu - Eagleville
Support - Richard Beaulieu - Eagleville
Diver - Brett MacNamara - Mansfield
Diver - Robert Viel - Ashford
Diver - John Alosky - North Coventry
Diver - James Preuss Jr. - Bolton

Diver - Tom Johnson - Andover
Diver - Jeff Tracy -Andover
Diver - Joseph Carilli - South Coventry
Diver - Joseph Carmody - South Coventry
Diver - Mark Dittrich - South Coventry
Diver - Sharon Snydal - South Coventry

Support - Heather Hodgkins - South Coventry
Diver - Ron Litell Jr. - Tolland

If I have missed anyone please email me and I will add you to the list.  The information officer will be sending me a complete list soon and I will add anyone that I have missed.