Coos County Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) Team  

Call-out Protocol

            "SAR Official" indicates a Board of Directors approved Team Captain, Team Leader or Technical and Communications (TAC) Officer.  

All searches are handled by the Coos County Sheriff's Office.  The reporting body, whether it is a private citizen, a police department, a fire company or any other entity that might have need of SAR's services must contact the Sheriff's Office.  A deputy will be dispatched to the scene to assess the situation.  

            If the deputy on scene determines a call-out of SAR is warranted, the deputy will request the Dispatch Center activate SAR. Dispatch will then notify SAR Officials in a prearranged order.  SAR officials will then contact through the Dispatch Center or other means, the deputy on scene.  The deputy on scene will inform the SAR Official of the situation and what SAR resources are needed to complete the search.  

            The SAR official will then call out such equipment and members as needed to fulfill the deputy's request.  SAR individuals will not contact the Dispatch Center or the Sheriff's Office without direct orders from a SAR Official. SAR individuals will not self-dispatch nor go to the search scene as spectators.  

            Arriving at the scene of a search, SAR members will assist the deputy only to the extent they are qualified.  SAR members will take pains not to get in the way at the scene.  SAR members will await the arrival of a SAR Official.            SAR members will not perform SAR functions unless directed by a SAR Official.  

            Only SAR Officials will attend the deputy's briefing.  The SAR Official will then brief SAR members. The SAR Officials will assign members to teams as needed.  The Officials will assign SAR equipment as needed.

             Members of the Amateur Radio Patrol will report to the TAC Officer for their assignment. Groundpounders, with or without Ham Licenses, will report to their Team Leader for assignments. Only Licensed Hams will operate on Ham frequencies.  

            After the search is complete, the Team Captain, Team Leaders and the TAC Officer will meet with the Deputy for a debriefing.  The SAR Officials will then meet with SAR members for a debriefing.

Adopted 04-11-05