View source for Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue

[[Image:sar123.jpg|thumb|right|Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue logo]]
'''Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue''' ('''MCSO SAR''') is a [[not for profit|non-profit]] volunteer [[search and rescue]] resource for the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office in [[Multnomah County, Oregon]], [[United States]]. The agency also offers its 3,000-5,000 hours of [[volunteer]] service<ref name="Multo"/> to other areas, including [[Clackamas County, Oregon|Clackamas]], [[Columbia County, Oregon|Columbia]], [[Washington County, Oregon|Washington]], [[Marion, Oregon|Marion]], [[Hood River County, Oregon|Hood River]], [[Wasco County, Oregon|Wasco]], [[Tillamook County, Oregon|Tillamook]], and [[Clatsop County, Oregon|Clatsop]] counties in Oregon, and [[Skamania County, Washington|Skamania]] and [[Clark County, Washington|Clark]] counties in [[Washington]].<ref name="Multo"/> The organization was first created in 1961 in cooperation with the [[Boy Scouts of America]], and is one of the longest continually used [[Explorer Search and Rescue ]]units in the United States.<ref name="Multo"/> In 1986, sponsorship of the MCSO SAR was transferred to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.<ref name="Multo"/>
MCSO SAR is part of the [[Mount Hood]] Search and Rescue Council.<ref>{{cite web| last = Kulongoski| first = Ted| title = The Governor’s Search and Rescue Task Force| url= http://www.americanalpineclub.org/pdfs/State_of_Oregon_S&R_report.pdf| accessdate = 2007-05-29 }}</ref>

== Training ==
All members of MCSO SAR are trained in a wide range of fields, including [[first aid]], the legal aspect of search and rescue, emergency survival skills and equipment, radio communications, land navigation, [[GPS]] orientation, [[crime scene]] safety and security, search organization and management, search techniques, man tracking, helicopter safety, [[wilderness medicine]], and rescue techniques.  A minimum of 40 hours of training each year is required by the state, however the MCSO SAR itself requires 200 hours.<ref name=PR>{{cite press release
  | title = Multnomah County Search & Rescue Enjoys Reputation Across The Northwest As a Leader in Its Field
  | publisher = Multnomah Co. Sheriff's Office
  | date = [[April 4]], [[2007]] 3:40 PM
  | url = http://www.co.multnomah.or.us/sheriff/newsroom/nr2007/040207COLUMBIA_RIVER_GORGE.doc
  | accessdate = 2007-05-30  }}</ref>

This extra training required by the MCSO SAR includes rope rescue training, rope systems, and pulley systems, [[urban search and rescue]] scenarios, training in responding to terrorist attacks, [[natural disaster]]s and urban searches, crime scene evidence searching, and snow and avalanche safety.  MCSO SAR also participates in the Washington State Search & Rescue Conference each year for specialist training in a number of different subjects.  Starting in the summer of 2007, MCSO SAR began optional training which consisted of review as well as specialized training like high rope rescue, advanced first aid, advanced [[survival skills]], and [[helicopter]] training.

== Services ==
[[Image:Sar event.JPG|thumb|right|220px|A Multnomah County Search and Rescue vehicle, with other rescue vehicles in the background during a search]]
[[Image:Mcso car 1.jpg|thumb|right|220px|A Multnomah County Sheriff's vehicle, with a command vehicle in the background during a search]]
The MCSO SAR  provides a number of services to Multnomah County, Oregon.  Its members are the main first response team for missing, lost, or injured persons in the county and are often called in by other counties to assist at large search sites, or when resources are drained.  MCSO SAR members also often perform crime scene evidence searches at major or outdoor crime scenes for agencies all over the state of Oregon and have been credited with solving hundreds of [[homicides]].<ref name=PR/> Besides responding to emergencies, MCSO SAR members often assist or put on public safety events to inform and teach the public about outdoor safety. MCSO SAR also works various public events, doing such things as security, parking/traffic, and first aid. MCSO SAR recently did security for the [[LPGA]] Golf tour in [[Portland, Oregon]] at the Columbia Edgewater Country Club.

== Membership ==
There are certain requirements to join MCSO Search and Rescue team,<ref name="Multo">[http://www.co.multnomah.or.us/sheriff/explorer.htm Multnomah County Sheriffs page] retrieved [[May 30]] [[2007]]</ref> these being:
* 14 years of age or older
* If in school, must maintain a [[Grade point average]] of 2.5 or higher
* Able to pass a criminal [[background check]]
* Have up-to-date [[vaccinations]]
* Able to be on feet and [[Hiking|hike]] for long periods of time
* Maintain a minimum amount of required outdoor equipment and clothing
* Able to be on call 24/7
* Pass a state certification exam

== Other agencies ==
There are a number of other agencies that assist with searches within Multnomah County, including:
* Portland Mountain Rescue (PMR)
* [[American Medical Response]] Reach & Treat Team (AMR RAT team)
* Pacific Northwest Search & Rescue (PNW SAR)
* Mountain Wave, who assist with communications and radio.<ref>[http://www.mwave.org/ Mountain Wave page] retrieved [[May 30]] [[2007]]</ref>
* AMR River Rescue
* Search-One K9.<ref>[http://www.search1k9.org/ Search One K9] retrieved [[May 30]] [[2007]]</ref>
* [[Washington County]] Explorer Search and Rescue
* Clackamas county Search and Rescue<ref>[http://www.co.clackamas.or.us/Sheriff/divisions/sar.htm/ Clackamas county Search and Rescue] retrieved [[June 9]] [[2007]]</ref>
* Mt. Hood Craig RATS
* Oregon [[Coast Guard]]
* [[Civil Air Patrol]] (CAP)

== See also ==
* [[Search and Rescue]]
* [[List of law enforcement agencies in Oregon]]
* [[Rescue]]
* [[Law Enforcement]]

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.mcso.us  Multnomah County Sheriff's Office]
* [http://www.sar2008.com/ 2008 Washington State Search & Rescue Conference]
* [http://www2.co.multnomah.or.us/Public/EntryPoint?ch=5a6c7845ebd96010VgnVCM1000003bc614acRCRD/ Multnomah County Emergency Management]


[[Category:Law enforcement agencies in Oregon]]
[[Category:Multnomah County, Oregon]]
[[Category:Rescue agencies]]
[[Category:United States county law enforcement agencies]]
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