Deputy Kasey Lewis, 50, has joined the Harris County Sheriff's Office Dive Team, becoming the first woman on the unit since the Marine Unit took over operations in 2017. The team serves unincorporated Harris County, including the Spring area.

The HCSO announced the milestone Tuesday, Sept. 15, noting that women had previously served on the dive team when it was operated by reserve deputies. Lewis is the first to earn a spot under the Marine Unit's command.

The dive team handles search and recovery operations for vehicles, drowning victims, weapons and other evidence. Team members complete more than 200 hours of training in basic, advanced rescue, public safety and commercial diving. They also log a minimum of 16 hours of continuous training every month.

The physical demands are steep.

Lewis described the conditions in an HCSO video released the same day. Gear weighs 80 to 100 pounds. Divers work in zero visibility, submerged in mud and muck.

"It's not something that everybody's willing to do or wants to do," Lewis said in the video.

For Lewis, the work centers on helping families. She said bringing closure to relatives of victims has been the most rewarding part of her time on the team. Lewis completed the same training required of all team members, according to HCSO.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said on X that he is "incredibly proud" of Lewis and that her dedication "reflects the high standards of our entire Dive Team and Marine Unit."

The sheriff's office said in its Facebook post that Lewis's achievement also reflects the agency's commitment to the 30x30 Initiative. The national effort aims to increase the representation of women in police recruit classes to 30 percent by 2030.

Lewis said in the video that she wants women to know they can pursue any career in law enforcement. HCSO's Marine Unit, which oversees the dive team, can be reached through the Harris County Sheriff's Office non-emergency line at 713-221-6000.