Search and Rescue Units
Search and Rescue Units
As with any organization, our strength is in our members who are a ready and skilled resource, and who make themselves available literally within minutes of emergency notification.
If you are interested in volunteering with one of our Search and Rescue (SAR) units, check out their websites below for more information. To apply to join a unit, complete and return the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Volunteer Application and Agreement to specialservices@bentoncountyor.gov and the unit representative will get back in touch with you.
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
The ARES Unit is a group of amateur radio operators who are assist emergency services and municipal agencies in an emergency or disaster. Volunteers provide radio communications and support from both base camp and the field and support communications for other agencies and community organizations.
Benton County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse (BCSMP)
A group of volunteers passionate about horsemanship who are trained in Search and Rescue techniques and are used for transportation of goods and people to ease the load of ground searchers. They are also called out for large animal rescues and represent the Sheriff’s Office at community events.
Corvallis Mountain Rescue Unit (CMRU)
A group of volunteers highly skilled in mountaineering, trained in the many facets of technical alpine search and rescue, and available around the clock. This unit often provides assistance to teams outside of Benton County in difficult to search areas.
Marys Peak Search and Rescue (MPSAR)
Marys Peak Search and Rescue volunteers provide assistance for people who are lost out of doors. Members help with initial first response, search management, road and search containment, man tracking, communications, and other ground search teams. Volunteers specifically aid the Benton County Sheriff’s Office and other official agencies in charge of search and rescue missions throughout Oregon.
Region Three K-9 Search and Rescue (R3K9)
The Region Three K-9 Unit is a team of searchers and their canine partners from around the Willamette Valley. Volunteers have highly trained dogs who specialize in areas such as human remains detection, water searches, or scent trailing. The team also consists of flankers who get called out to assist the K-9 teams.
Sky Search and Rescue (SkySAR)
The Sky Search and Rescue Unit is made up of trained and qualified search pilots, spotters, and communications and base support personnel who live in or near Corvallis. Due to their positions, they can often see signs missed by ground teams and can help direct ground searchers to an area of interest. SkySAR’s primary role is to support the Benton County Sheriff’s Office in their SAR and Disaster Relief responsibilities, but services are also provided to other counties at their request.