ROSEBURG, Ore. (KMTR) -- The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is looking for a few good volunteers to help out with their search and rescue program. They’re currently recruiting for both their adult and youth Search and Rescue Volunteer Units, and they're looking for people who love the outdoors and helping others.
Volunteers must attend training, but the program is free. You'll learn about search techniques such as land navigation, tracking, rescue and recover, and first aid.
The Sheriff's Office says they rely on their volunteers. Without volunteer help, they say they wouldn't have the resources necessary for the county.
“The Sheriff's Office is mandated to provide search and rescue - the problem is we don't have the resources to provide those services out there, especially when you look at 50 to 60 search and rescue missions a year,” says Wayne Stinson, Emergency Manager for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
“So the volunteer pool, that's our only option for providing these services to the citizens of Douglas County.”
Stinson says volunteers can help with a range of duties, so there's something for everyone. You need to be at least fourteen to volunteer.
If you're interested in helping out, the first training session will occur on Tuesday, October 9, at 7:00 p.m. It'll be in the Sheriff's Office conference room, in the justice building in Roseburg.
For more information, visit the Douglas County Sheriff's Office website.
