Who We Are

The Sonoma County Search and Rescue Team is part of the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office Helicopter/Search and Rescue Unit. It is an all-volunteer group that operates under the supervision of Sheriff's Office personnel, often in conjunction with the flight crew and paramedics of the department's helicopter, Henry 1.

Volunteers are trained in all aspects of search and rescue, such as search techniques, man tracking, wilderness navigation, emergency medical care, interviewing, communications and low angle rescue. Experienced members are given additional training in search theory, lost person behavior and the incident command system as they progress into search management.

What We Do

Volunteers are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to assist in locating lost persons, whether they are hikers, hunters, Alzheimer's patients or missing children. Volunteers can also be called upon to assist Sheriff's Office personnel in conducting crime scene searches, as well as assisting at large public events, such as during the racing season at Infineon Raceway.

Volunteers are expected to attend training sessions that are scheduled one weekend day a month, as well as one weeknight meeting each month. Searchers can be called out any day of the week and every hour of the day and night. Volunteers are expected to respond to as many searches as their schedules will allow.

Join the Team

Sonoma County Search and Rescue is currently recruiting new adult volunteers who are looking for an exciting and challenging way to serve their community. Adults of all ages are welcome. For more information about our team check www.sonomasar.org. For an application contact the Sonoma County Human Resources Department at (707) 565-1702.