SANDPOINT — Bonner County Sheriff’s officials are hoping partnerships with other agencies, grant funding or a combination thereof can be used to acquire a remotely operated underwater vehicle.

Despite being only as big as a 1980s vintage boom box, the mini ROV could be used to assist in underwater searches and recovery operations. The device is fitted with cameras, light emitting diodes for illumination and even an extendable claw for grasping submerged objects.

The SeaBotix LBV 150 demonstrated at City Beach last week connects to a small-diameter tether which feeds images and other data to an integrated console, providing crisp video in murky depths.

But the portable ROV setup doesn’t come cheap. The base price is around $30,000 and the costs can rise to $45,000-$50,000 depending on optional equipment.

Such an expenditure isn’t in the sheriff’s budget, but Undersheriff Bob Bussey is hoping arrangements can be reached with other law enforcement and resource management agencies in the area to ease some of cost burden for an asset that would be used cooperatively. Grant funding could also be an option.

“There is an interest and a need,” Bussey said.

For instance, Kootenai County has side-scan sonar, which can be invaluable in locating objects.

A ROV such as the SeaBotix unit could be used in concert with sonar to definitively identify the object.

“It’s a good setup,” Phil Stella, commander of the Bonner County Sheriff’s dive team, said of the mini ROV.