Divorce and Family Law Attorney

Off Duty - See What Neighbor & Local Divorce & Child Custody Attorney, Paul Rowley, Does During His Off Time

How does a full-time divorce and child custody lawyer and part-time judge with five children find time for anything else? Somehow, Paul Rowley, managing partner in the law firm, Rowley Chapman Barney & Buntrock, Ltd., and pro-tern Superior Court Judge, for the last eight years, has found time to serve as a member of Sheriff Joe Arpaio's volunteer dive team.

The diver's "posse" is involved in the recovery of drowning victims and water related crime scene investigations. When a person drowns in a waterway, a boat sinks, a plane crashes into a lake, or a car goes off a bridge into a river, Paul, who has served as the commander for the past six years, is paged and mobilizes an elite group of 25, highly trained search and recovery divers. The posse utilizes the resources of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, including the most recent addition, the Fox 1 helicopter. They also use air boats, patrol boats, pontoon boats and other watercraft to get to the scene of the accident.

Often tools, weapons, jewels, drugs or other items involved in a crime have been ditched in a canal, lake or river; the team will search those areas to recover the evidence.

The dive team has been called all over the United States to assist other agencies in drowning recoveries. In the last ten years, they have made recoveries throughout Arizona, in California and Mexico. Last year, when eleven people drowned in the Slot Canyon at Lake Powell, the Maricopa Country team, along with other agencies, was on hand to help recover the victims.

Over the years, Paul has seen an increase in the number of boating deaths related to alcohol consumption. He estimates more than half of the deaths and accidents could be prevented if those recreating at the river or lake did not consume alcohol, or if they did, that they did not operate watercraft while being under its influence.

This year there have been approximately 15 deaths and drownings at Saguaro Lake, Salt River, Canyon Lake, Lake Pleasant, and various canals. In any given year, Paul and his lead divers will each donate 500 to 1,000 hours of time to the County. In addition, the individual members provide their own dive equipment and receive no financial reimbursement or compensation from the Sheriff's Office. It is truly a volunteer organization that epitomizes how everyone in the community, regardless of their talents, can give back to the community.