Search and Rescue (SAR)

Recent Search and Rescue Missions-

• On Wednesday May 18, 2011 at 2013 hours, the Amador County Sheriff’s Office was advised of an overdue aircraft which was last identified as flying through Amador County at 1547 hours. Read more here>>>
• On Friday May 20, 2011 at approximately 1545 hours, members of the Amador County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Nordic Team located the wreckage of the missing Lancair aircraft owned and piloted by Robert Henderson Brown Sr., 78, of Gardnerville, Nevada. Read more here>>>
• On June 18, 2011 at approximately 1600 hours, the Amador County Sheriff’s 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Center received a call reporting a male subject was stuck in a tree, in the middle of the Mokelumne River, approximately 2 miles east of Hwy 49 on Electra Road. Read more here>>>
• On Saturday July 2 at approximately 1615 hours, the Amador County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a missing hiker in the Tragedy Creek area of Amador County within the El Dorado National Forest. Read more here>>>
• On Monday July 4, 2011 the search for missing 53 year old Camarillo hiker, Lauren Ellen DeLaTorre, continued, with search efforts being expanded. Read more here>>> 

The Amador County Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) Team is a volunteer based organization. The SAR Team is supervised as a collateral duty, by a sergeant and two deputy sheriffs. SAR Team members receive a multitude of training specific to the SAR environment. The SAR Team volunteers are on-call 24 hours a day. They may be called upon by the Sheriff to conduct a search for and rescue of lost or injured persons. The SAR Team also handles other duties as assigned and they may also be called upon to assist in mutual aid searches in other counties.

Within the Amador County Sheriff's SAR Team there are a variety of specialty units including:

HASTY UNIT- This is a rapid deployment team that has the ability to quickly and efficiently search an area prior to the arrival of other teams. Members possess training and experience in a variety of SAR disciplines and can handle challenging environments of the SAR mission.

GROUND SEARCH UNIT - The Ground Search Unit is a foot search and rescue team. SAR team members are cross trained and many are also members of the Hasty Unit. The Ground Search Unit members are trained to observe and be alert for clues that may have been left behind by the lost person.

NORDIC UNIT - This Nordic Unit is specifically trained for Winter SAR missions and may include the use of skis, snowmobiles, or snowshoes.

SWIFTWATER UNIT - The Swiftwater Rescue Unit receives special training for the river environment and assists the Sheriff's Office Dive Team on swiftwater rescues.

The Amador County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Team has proven to be an exceptional unit. They successfully complete numerous rescues and recoveries each year, often in unforgiving terrain and in extremely poor conditions. The Sheriff is extremely proud of this dedicated group of volunteers.

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A SAR TEAM MEMBER?
If so, you must be at least 18 years old, have a desire to help save lives and be of good moral character. For more information on becoming a part of the Amador County Sheriff's SAR Team please e-mail the Amador County Sheriff's Office at sar@amadorsheriff.org

Your e-mail will be reviewed and a SAR Coordinator will later contact you to provide you with more information on becoming a part of the SAR Team.