Walla Walla County Sheriff Search and Resuce (WWCSSAR) maintains five units including Ground, Support, Medical, Mounted, Transportation and other units as needed and/or established by the SAR council. Each unit trains to an exceptional level within their specialty in addition to the basic requirements of a good SAR responder. These men and women donate equipment and hundreds of hours yearly in Search and Rescue operations, fundraising, and public awareness campaigns.

Members of all Units must maintain a 24/48 hour equipment packs. Individual Units may have additional equipment requirements.

The Ground Search Unit is a foot search and rescue team. SAR team members are cross trained and many are also members of other Units. The Ground Search Unit members are trained to observe and be alert for clues that may have been left behind by the lost person. The Unit Leader and Unit members are Field certified.

The K-9 Unit is made up of trained and tested handlers and their canine partners who provide assistance to law enforcement and volunteer groups in an effort to reunite families and loved ones. The Unit also provides education programs to educate and inform the public on how K-9 search dogs are involved with search and rescue and how to avoid becoming lost and what to do if it happens. In providing qualified canine teams for search and rescue missions, our goal is to have teams in each of the following canine disciplines: Air Scenting/Area Search Disaster - live and recovery HRD (Human Remains Detection) Scent Discriminating Trailing (Man-trailing)

The Operations Unit provides support to the Incident Commander during a search or training mission. Support Unit members are required to demonstrate proficiency with the NIMS and ICS as established by the Unit Leader and reviewed by the SAR Council Executive Committee.

The Medical Unit has a primary mission to provide trained medical personnel in support of Search and Rescue operations and training missions as needed. Medical unit members must be 1st Responders, EMT’s or Paramedics.

The Mounted Unit provides searchers on horseback with an elevated position of the searcher which can enhance the ability to see sign, track, and provide a wider range of view. The speed in which a horse/human partnership can move will assist in covering outlying areas. The strength and power of the horse can be utilized for subject evacuation, canine rescue when needed, and movement of supplies to areas not accessible to vehicles.

The Transportation Unit plans, organizes, maintains, operates and coordinates available means of transportation for the movement of supplies, evacuees, personnel, service animals, livestock and equipment during actual missions, training events or evidence search activities. Included are 4x4 and 4x2 vehicles. Bicycles are also utilized by members of this Unit.

In addition, the Team works closely with the following groups:

• Civil Air Patrol
• Various law enforcement groups in the Columbia Basin Area