SHERIFF'S SAR PROGRAM

• WE TRAIN

• WE EQUIP

• YOU VOLUNTEER

Since 1972, the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) Team has been providing search and rescue services to the residents of Contra Costa County.  The SAR team is comprised of more than 80 highly trained and dedicated volunteers, who are ready twenty-four hours a day to respond for calls for assistance.  The SAR Team is a resource to all law enforcement agencies inside of Contra Costa County, responding to all types of request for assistance.  The Contra Costa County SAR Team operates throughout the State of California under Mutual Aid Requests for assistance.

If its adventure and unique experiences that you seek, the Contra Costa SAR Program is the place for you!

The SAR Team responds for an average of 75 calls for assistance each year.  The calls that the SAR team responds to range in severity from missing adults and children, to kidnapped children, to the search for evidence, and the response for rescue in times of disaster.  Because of the wide variety of member training, the SAR Team is a valuable resource for the communities within the County.  The SAR team also participates in many public service events and presentations at locations throughout the County. 

Specialty Areas

Members of the SAR Program, once they have completed 100 hours of initial training are able to participate in training designed to provide specialty skills.  Specialty skill areas of the Contra Costa SAR Program include:

• Low Angle and Technical Rescue Techniques (Cliff Rescue)
• Man Tracking
• Swiftwater First Responders
• Mountain Bike Resource
• All-Terrain Vehicle Resource
• Canine Tracking
• Mounted SAR (Equestrian)

Training       

Contra Costa SAR members receive training in a variety of areas.  SAR members must first participate in basic SAR course, consisting of over one hundred hours of training.  The basic SAR course builds skills in search theory, search and rescue techniques, evidence handling, low angle rescue, survival techniques, navigation, first aid, and disaster training.  All of this training is accomplished after normal business hours.  All of the recent graduates of the training program have commented about the quality of the SAR Training Program.       

Once members have completed the Basic SAR course, they are eligible to participate in one of the specialty SAR areas.  Specialty training is conducted on a monthly basis and is open to all members of the SAR Program.

Qualifications

To apply for membership with the Sheriff's Search and Rescue Program, you must:

• Attend a monthly meeting.

• Attend a scheduled orientation program.

• Complete a SAR Program Application.

• Possess a valid and current California driver's license.

• Complete a thorough background check, to include a fingerprint check.

• Complete an oral examination board.

The Volunteer Services Unit is continually accepting applications for the Sheriff's Search and Rescue Program.

 VOLUNTEER SERVICES APPLICATION

 Fill out the application and either mail or delivery the application to:

          Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office
          Volunteer Services Unit
          50 Glacier Drive
          Martinez, CA. 94553

For any questions contact: Volunteer Services Coordinator
                                              (925) 646-4461

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VOLUNTEER SERVICES HOURS LOG