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Sheriff's Search & Rescue

EXPLORER POST 178

Explorer post 178 consists of young men and women between 14 and 20 years of age. This group is involved in searches within Lane County. They can be called upon at any time, day or night, to search for a missing person or as support personnel in base camp operations. They may also provide assistance to other, more technical search teams, such as the Water Search and Rescue Unit and Eugene Mountain Rescue. Regular meetings and outings occur throughout the year to provide essential training in preparation to search involvement. Applicants selected for this program must be in good physical health, obtain most of their own equipment, and maintain a "C" or greater in each class in school.

EUGENE MOUNTAIN RESCUE

Eugene Mountain Rescue (EMR) is a non-profit volunteer organization. EMR’s primary purposes is high angle rock/cliff rescue and rescue work above the snow line in a mountainous environment. EMR also participates in wilderness searches on steep terrain, and assists in recoveries and other types of searches. This group operates in Lane County and other areas of the state, when needed. Applicants should be skilled in rock climbing and mountaineering, and be equipped for all four seasons. Those who may not have climbing or mountaineering skills, but are willing to learn, are also welcome as associate level team members.

LANE COUNTY SHERIFF’S MOUNTED POSSE

Consists of volunteers with a desire to use equestrian skills in a rural or wilderness environment to assist the Sheriff and citizens of Lane County. A sound, manageable, western type horse (14.2 to 16 hands) is required as well as a full range of western tack and transportation for rider and horse. Functional activities of the Posse include ceremonies, drills, public education, search and rescue, and various civic activities.

LANE COUNTY TRACKERS

Lane County Trackers are volunteers who have taken numerous tracking classes in addition to classes required by the Oregon State Sheriff's Association. Trackers are trained to look for human footprints and other evidence to determine human passage and direction of travel. Trackers often work in conjunction with other search and rescue groups. At times, trackers are called to other counties to assist in search and rescue efforts. Trackers provide their own equipment, and are available for search and rescue missions around the clock, at any time of year, in any kind of weather.

LANE COUNTY WATER SEARCH AND RESCUE UNIT

The Lane County Water Search and Rescue Unit is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the citizens of Lane County. This unit assists the Sheriff’s Office with water related functions, including recoveries, evidence searches, vehicle recoveries, and surface rescues. Divers supply their own SCUBA equipment. The team consists of advanced open water certified divers, swift water rescue technicians, power boat, drift boat, and raft operators, as well as shore support personnel.

LANE COUNTY SEARCH DOG TEAM

The Lane County Search Dog Team is a group of volunteers who provide trained search dog teams as part of the Sheriff's search and rescue program. Team members are available throughout the year for search and rescue within Lane County and are often called upon to assist other agencies throughout the State. Team members provide all their own equipment and supply and train their own canines. A rigorous training program takes approximately two to three years to complete.

SPECIAL VEHICLES GROUP

The off-road support program is a group of volunteer’s who participate in search and rescue activities that involve working on and off unimproved roads in a rural or forested environment. Volunteer’s must be certified in First Aid and CPR, have experience in wilderness survival, off-road driving and recovery, and own a off-road equipped vehicle.