Manatee County Search and Rescue volunteers put their skills to the test Tuesday, Sept. 1, during a full-scale mock search involving two simulated missing persons.
The exercise brought together the organization’s K9, ground search and drone teams in real-world conditions. Members practiced search planning, team deployment, communications, navigation, K9 operations and aerial reconnaissance as they worked together to locate the two subjects.
The training allowed members to test how the organization’s specialized teams coordinate during a missing-person response while identifying areas that can be strengthened before an actual emergency.
Who is Manatee County Search and Rescue?
Manatee County Search and Rescue is a nonprofit, all-volunteer public safety organization that assists law enforcement and other first responder agencies with searches for missing, lost and stranded people and other emergencies.
The organization was formed in 1999 by a small group of public safety professionals who saw a need for additional search-and-rescue capabilities in the community.
The team is led by Chief Jared Leggett and includes volunteers from a variety of backgrounds, including law enforcement, fire service, emergency medicine and the military. Many members are current or retired public safety professionals who contribute their experience and specialized skills to the organization.
Members serve in different roles based on their training and qualifications. Rescue technicians conduct ground, aerial and water-based search-and-rescue operations, while operations support specialists assist with logistics and other needs.
The organization’s capabilities include ground searches, K9 operations, drone searches, marine response and disaster response. Members train in areas such as search techniques, map and compass navigation, GPS use, emergency medical care, communications and the Incident Command System.
Manatee County Search and Rescue also participates in Project Lifesaver, a program that helps locate people with cognitive conditions who may be prone to wandering. Participants wear transmitters that can be tracked by trained personnel if they are reported missing.
During Tuesday night’s exercise, several of those capabilities were put into action at the same time. Ground teams searched the designated area, K9 teams used their specialized training and drone operators provided aerial reconnaissance as volunteers worked to locate the two missing-person subjects.
For the volunteers of Manatee County Search and Rescue, exercises such as the Sept. 1 mock search help ensure the team is prepared when called upon to assist someone in the community.
More information about Manatee County Search and Rescue, its programs, volunteer and donation opportunities is available at manateecountysar.org.
