Press Release: Monterey County Sheriff Swears In New Search and Rescue Team Volunteers
DATE/TIME: 07/10/25 at 3:30 PM
TYPE OF INCIDENT: Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Welcomes New Search and Rescue Team Volunteers -
LOCATION: Monterey County Sheriff’s Office – Coastal Patrol Substation 1200 Aguajito Road, Monterey, CA Road, Salinas, CA 93940
MEDIA CONTACT: Andres Rosas, Commander; Phone: 831-261-5492; Email: rosasae@countyofmonterey.gov
On Wednesday, July 9th, 2025, Monterey County Sheriff’s Tina Nieto welcomed three new volunteers to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team during an informal Swearing-In Ceremony.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team (SAR) is comprised of both sworn sheriff’s deputies and civilian volunteers, making it one of the only search and rescue teams in the state to use both sworn and non-sworn personnel as fully functional members of the team. Specialized positions on the team include high-angle technicians, a swift-water rescue team, and mountain bike operators. Training includes lifesaving skills, including rigorous wilderness first aid training, avalanche rescue skills, technical rope skills, and helicopter rescue technician training.
These dedicated individuals are fundamental assets for search and rescue missions as they operate in dangerous and demanding environments to ensure public safety. Sheriff Tina M. Nieto stated, “Our newest volunteers are committed to serving others. We appreciate their willingness to serve our community. They embody the spirit of the team’s motto: So That Others May Live. Investing in Monterey County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team is crucial, especially as recent national events have highlighted the need for emergency response during natural disasters.” Our SAR team frequently responds to emergencies in Monterey County and throughout the state for mutual aid search and rescue missions. The team stands ready to respond anywhere, to any circumstance, be it an injured climber stranded high on a cliff face, a vehicle off the side of the road, a missing child, or a hunter lost in a snowstorm in the high sierras.
Our SAR team is a fully recognized member of the Mountain Rescue Association (MRA) as a Type 1 Rescue Unit. In this elite organization, we are certified in three disciplines – High Angle Rescue, Winter Alpine Operations, and Search Management.
If you would like to become a Search and Rescue Team volunteer, please visit the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office website at mcso.countyofmonterey.gov where you can find more information and a civilian volunteer application.