Deschutes County Search and Rescue Recruiting Volunteers—Here’s What It Takes
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Do you have what it takes to save someone’s life? Deschutes County Search and Rescue is looking for 25 new volunteers to join its ranks.
The organization, which operates under the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, will host an open house next Monday, November 17. The event offers a chance to learn how the team operates and how residents can put their outdoor skills to work helping others in emergencies across Central Oregon.
Although the team functions within the Sheriff’s Office, it is not a branch of law enforcement. Instead, members see their work as a way to serve the community while strengthening their own skills.
“We’re very goal-oriented. We’re very focused. We’re in the moment, and we love to do what we do,” said Taylor Bacci with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team. “We train so much outside of these missions that when a mission does roll around, we are boots on the ground and bringing all of our skills into reality to bring this person home safely.”
Applications for the volunteer positions are open through the end of the month. Prospective members must complete a physical fitness test and screening. There is no cost to apply, and only those who pass the screening and interviews will need to pay for uniforms.
