First and foremost, a life-saving unit, Search and Rescue (SAR) has evolved into much more. It is the premier mentoring program in Linn County, serving countless teens in its more than 30 years of operation. The youth of SAR work shoulder to shoulder with the deputies of the Linn County Sheriff’s Office. In fact, many of the adult leaders of SAR are full time Linn County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
The Linn County Sheriff Sheriff’s Office is recruiting young men and women, ages 14 to 18, to join the Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team and participate in a 10 day summer training program.
This will be the 29th Search and Rescue Training Academy in Linn County and will be held June 23 through July 2.
Those who are interested in becoming an integral part of the Sheriff’s Office search and rescue mission should have an interest in community service and a desire to be a part of a highly trained and professional life saving organization.
There is an application process that includes oral interviews, a background check and physical aptitude test. Applicants must attend one recruit meeting at the Sheriff’s office on March 13th, April 10th, or May 8th at 7pm to attend the academy. There will then be a Physical Aptitude test and applicants must attend one of either May 13th or May 20th. Accepted applicants will be required to attend the Pre-Academy meeting on June 12. At that time, applicants will be eligible to attend the 10 day Search and Rescue Training Academy in June. The training will include classes in wilderness survival, shelter building, search tactics, first aid/CPR, map and compass reading, rappelling, and many more topics.
For more information about the program contact Emergency Management Coordinator Ric Lentz at the Linn County Sheriff’s Office (541-967-3950) or visit the Linn County Sheriff’s Office website at www.linnsheriff.org. Online applications are available on the website and at the Sheriff’s Office in Albany.
2023 Search and Rescue Training Academy Dates
SAR 2023 Recruit interview/initial Monday meeting dates 1900 to 2000:
- 03/13/23
- 04/10/23
- 05/08/23
SAR Physical Aptitude Test Saturdays 0800 to 1200:
- 05/13/23
- 05/20/23
Pre Academy Mandatory Monday Required Meeting 1900 to 2000
- 06/12/23:
Search and Rescue Training Academy
Since records have been kept, beginning in 1990, the young men and women of Linn County Sheriff’s SAR have dedicated over 100,000 man hours to the citizens of Linn County. Alumni of our program have gone into careers in law enforcement, computer programming, architecture, business, nuclear physics, and have become members of the armed forces.
Linn County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue is an all-volunteer program with staff supervision and leadership. We are extremely proud of the young people in our program. They are the future of our communities.
Join the LCSO SAR Team
Interested in volunteering?
- Review the eligibility requirements and make sure you qualify.
- Fill out our online application.
Successful applicants will be eligible to attend the Search and Rescue Training Academy held in June. Attendance and successful completion of the Academy is required for Post membership. If you successfully complete the Academy, you will be sworn in as an active member of the Linn County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Post.
The Search and Rescue Post Advisors, Lieutenant Ken Stewart or Emergency Management Coordinator Ric Lentz, can answer any questions you may have. Please call the Linn County Sheriff’s Office (541-812-2272) and leave a message for the Search and Rescue Post Advisor to call you, and one of them will return your call.