Douglas County Commissioners Recognize Search And Rescue Volunteers During National Search And Rescue Week

Douglas County commissioners recognized local Search and Rescue volunteers and personnel Wednesday, issuing a proclamation during their weekly business meeting in honor of National Search and Rescue Week.

The proclamation, presented May 20, recognized the work of Douglas County Search and Rescue members, who assist with missing person searches, natural disasters, emergency events, wildfire evacuations and criminal investigations.

Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin said Search and Rescue volunteers play a critical role in the Sheriff’s Office response.

“Our volunteers in Search and Rescue provide a critical role in the Sheriff’s Office response to lost and missing persons, natural disasters, and sometimes we depend on them to help us with criminal investigations,” Hanlin said. “I want to thank the Douglas County Board of Commissioners for your constant and full support of our Search & Rescue program over the years. You have always recognized the importance of Search & Rescue and always provided us with the resources we need. Most importantly, I want to thank our volunteers for your commitment and dedication to our Search & Rescue Program.”

During the meeting, Commissioner Tom Kress provided background on the county’s Search and Rescue program. Commissioner Chris Boice then read the proclamation on behalf of the board and presented certificates to Sheriff’s Office leaders, deputies and Search and Rescue volunteers.

Douglas County Search and Rescue operates under the direction of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, with support from the Board of Commissioners. Volunteers donate their time, skills and training to respond when people are missing, injured or in need of help.

According to the county, Douglas County SAR volunteers completed 97 missions in 2025, with 85 adult volunteers donating 5,745 hours of service. The program also participated in 48 outreach and education events and conducted 108 training exercises. The SAR Dive Team, made up of eight members, logged 19.5 mission hours and 64 dive training hours.

The county’s Search and Rescue program includes several specialized teams, including:

• Communications Team
• Mounted Team
• Ground Team
• 4x4 Team
• Snow Cat Team
• Dive Team
• K-9 Team
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Team
• Logistics Team
• Mountain Rescue Team
• Tracking Team

Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy and SAR Coordinator Larissa May said the success of the program comes from the volunteers and their families.

“Thank you Commissioners. I just want to say that the success of our Search and Rescue Program is completely because of the volunteers in our community who give selflessly every time they are called upon no matter the capacity,” May said. “Whether it be a search for someone or a recovery when we know the person is deceased and ultimately have to leave their families and bring that person home to theirs. The people in our community who step up and decide to be search and rescue volunteers are dedicating hundreds of hours to obtain the training that’s required to reach their Oregon State Sheriff’s Office certification and then continue to selflessly give back to in our community. It is really all their effort and hard work that makes us so successful. I want to thank them and their families that support them and allow them to give back.”

Representative Virgle Osborne, who was among the volunteers recognized, also thanked the commissioners and Sheriff’s Office for their support.

“Thank you to all of the Board of Commissioners for your support,” Osborne said. “I’ve been on a number of search and rescue missions, and we have an amazing group of Search & Rescue volunteers here in Douglas County. I’ve seen some people give it their all. We don’t get paid for this job, but it’s nice to know that we have the support of the County and the Sheriff’s Office and know that when we are out there, we have that with us. It makes our job safer and helps us do what we need to do. I am proud to be part of Search & Rescue and I plan to always be part of it.”

National Search and Rescue Week was first observed in May 2010, after the United States Senate passed a resolution designating the fourth week in May each year to honor search and rescue personnel and volunteers. Search and rescue organizations are largely made up of volunteers with specialized training, including pilots, mountaineers, divers, dog handlers, backcountry horsemen, snowmobilers and ATV operators.

Boice said the work requires extensive training and commitment.

“What Search & Rescue is, is people who spend a tremendous amount of time training to help others,” Boice said. “They train all on their own, voluntarily and train in specialized areas like ground search, how to read a compass, GPS and road maps, first aid, tracking and using specialized equipment.”

Boice said the county benefits from the volunteers’ dedication.

“It’s important for people to understand that these people who are going out volunteering their time and at times risking their own lives, are highly trained and very dedicated,” Boice said. “And I truly appreciate that. The work you do matters, even when the outcome is not what we want - it is important to the public and to the families. We could not do this work without you volunteers. Our county is much better off because of your dedication and commitment to training. Thank you!”

To show support for Search and Rescue volunteers and personnel, commissioners also directed the county Facilities Department to “Turn the Night Orange” by changing the exterior lights at the Douglas County Courthouse to orange from May 18 through May 24.

A video of the proclamation presentation is available on the Douglas County Government Facebook page.