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Home > Sheriff's Office > Enforcement Division > Search and Rescue Teams

Marion County Search and Rescue Teams     Marion County Sheriff's Office provides Search and Rescue throughout Marion County and outlying areas, primarily in remote wilderness areas. Our team of highly trained and motivated volunteers bring special skills, equipment and their personal time to assist the Sheriff in providing exceptional Search and Rescue service to the citizens of Marion County. If you are interested in joining our Search and Rescue family, please contact the Sheriff's Office SAR Coordinator or the appropriate Team Leader listed below.  Below is a list of our teams, their missions and specific requirements. NOTE: All applicants must: Pass a police background investigation. Satisfactorily complete our Oregon State Sheriff's Association certified Search and Rescue Academy. Possess a current, valid Oregon driver's license (except for some Team 18 youth). Become First Aid and CPR certified. Search and Rescue Team 18 Mission: To provide personnel for ground searches for missing persons, evidence of crimes, and other related missions. Minimum Age: 14 Probation Period: One-year. Trainee must complete the Team 18 200-hour training program. Required Training: All members must complete 30-hours of continued training each year and respond to a minimum 50% of the searches. Membership Requirements: None. Required Equipment: Must provide basic survival equipment, hiking boots, sleeping bag. Loaner equipment is available to those who cannot initially afford to purchase equipment. Eventually, each member must provide his or her own equipment. Additional Information: Members over 21 years of age will serve as leaders and instructors for the younger members, not as first-line search personnel.   Marion County Jeep Patrol, Inc. Mission: To provide search and rescue services, with an emphasis on 4-wheel-drive vehicles. Minimum Age: 21 Probation Period: Six-month probation. During internship, trainees must complete a minimum of 15 hours of training, attend 4 of 6 monthly evening meetings and 4 of 6 Saturday field training exercises. During the probation period, members are eligible to participate in lost person searches as an observer/trainee. Required Training: All members must complete 30 hours of training each year. Examples of the types of training are:  Map and compass First Aid Locating downed aircraft Treating hypothermia and heat stroke Crime scene procedures Spotting booby traps and drug sites Knots and ropes for evacuation Search procedures and patterns Person tracking techniques Wilderness survival Membership Requirements: None. Required Equipment: Personal survival equipment. A complete equipment list is supplied by the Team. Additional Information: A 4-wheel-drive vehicle is not required, but is recommended. On a search, every vehicle has a driver and co-driver. There are many responsibilities in addition to driving. We can use your help to run the Base Station Communications, coordinate people in the field, or interview witnesses. Training is given in a variety of skills necessary to conduct safe and effective searches. Jeep Patrol meets on the third Tuesday evening of each month in Salem. Field training meetings are on the following Saturday.    Mounted Posse Mission: (1)To provide Search and Rescue services, with the primary emphasis on the use of horses; (2)To provide community services to Marion County and the State of Oregon through camaraderie and good will; and (3) To represent and assist the MCSO in performing its duties, with the primary emphasis on the use of horses. Minimum Age: 21 Probation Period: One-year probation. Members must be voted in by the Posse membership. Prospective applicants must pass a horse certification skills test before receiving an application. Required Training: In addition to the general criteria for membership in a SAR Team, members of the Posse are required to receive 30-hours of continued training each year to maintain their membership in the Posse. Membership Requirements: Members must attend no less than 7 of 12 general membership meetings during each year of membership and actively participate in the Posse. Required Equipment: Horse, trailer/truck, personal survival equpment, tack and handgun. (A complete list is provided by the Posse.) Additional Information: The horse and rider must be able to ride safely in rough mountainous terrain, among crowds, in parades and in a wide variety of conditions and circumstances.   SARCOM (Search and Rescue Communications) Mission: To provide radio communication for all search teams and support for base operations. Minimum Age: 16 Probation Period: 6 months Required Training: Additional training is required in radio protocol and communications. Membership Requirements: Applicant must have an interest in radio communications and a desire to serve the public. Required Equipment: Personal survival equipment. (A complete list of equipment is provided by SARCOM.)   Marion County Search Dogs  Mission: To provide SAR services with primary emphasis on K-9 dogs. Minimum Age: 21 Probation Period: One-year probation. Required Training: None. Membership Requirements: None. Required Equipment: K-9 dog and a personal vehicle. Additional Information: Members must possess a valid Oregon driver's license. Dog and owner must be able to navigate rough mountainous terrain and move through crowds in a variety of conditions and circumstances.   Special Vehicles Unit Mission: To provide assistance, state wide, in the search for and rescue of a person or persons lost, missing and / or injured due to, but not necessarily limited to : outdoor activities, crashes of aircraft, industrial accidents, multi-casualty incidents, or natural or terrorist related disasters. Capabilities: Support and assist all SAR teams on search and rescue missions with recovery and transport capabilities over adverse terrain in all weather conditions.  Ability to deploy in urban, suburban and wilderness environments.  Self sustaining for a minimum of 48 hours. Minimum Age: 21  Probation Period: One-year probation. Required Training: In addition to training required for SAR membership, complete an ATV safety course as prescribed by the ATV Safety Institute.  The Special Vehicle Unit will require a satisfactory level of participation in scheduled monthly training and attendance at monthly meetings. Membership Requirements: None. Required Equipment: A 4x4 utility ATV (quad) / Snowmobile , meeting State of Oregon required standards for ATV’s/Snowmobiles, capable of carrying personal clothing, survival and safety equipment as indicated by the unit, including, but not limited to: First Aid kit 48 hour contingency of food and water Adequate fuel supply GPS and compass Survival equipment as specified by the unit A comprehensive list of required equipment will be provided to successful applicants It should be noted that the above equipment may be of substantial expense to the member Additional Information: Members will be expected to respond to mission call-outs any time day or night under all weather conditions.  The SVU is available to assist other SAR units state-wide as requested and is a deployable resource for county, state or federal emergencies.   SAR Team Contact Person Team 18 Casey Wenger Jeep Patrol Dave Hanus Mounted Posse Dale Zehner Marion County Search Dogs Kendra Buell SARCOM Wayne Huberd Special Vehicles Unit (SVU) Kevin Henson The Chuck Wagon Rhonda Stitz MCSO SAR Coordinator Sgt. Bill Sherburn

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