The Pinal County Sheriff's Office has seen a major overhaul, which includes our Search and Rescue (SAR). These progressive reforms are designed to modernize operations and improve public safety.

The sheriff’s office continues to pursue re-organization and has now consolidated outside volunteer search and rescue teams into one unified PCSO Search and Rescue Posse. This posse is separate and distinct from the law enforcement Posse and shall only be granted authority for search and rescue functions.

Two volunteer groups, Sonoran Search and Rescue and Superstition Search and Rescue have been operating as independent organizations outside of the sheriff's office. They have operated outside the Sheriff's Office and respond when called by the sheriff's office. On December 1, 2009, all search and rescue operations shall function within the sheriff's office, where emergency rescue response will be coordinated under one unified command, rather than three distinct organizations.

As defined by Arizona State Statute, the responsibility to conduct or coordinate search and rescue operations involving the life or health of any person falls upon the sheriff of that county and such operations shall be conducted under the direction of the sheriff’s office (ARS 11-441). The statute further states that the sheriff may assist in such operations in another county at the request of that county's sheriff and may request assistance from any persons or agencies in the fulfillment of duties under this subsection.

The sheriff’s office has decided to follow the models of county SAR teams from across the nation, including Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, by reorganizing into Pinal County Search and Rescue Posse. These volunteers will now be covered by the sheriff’s office liability insurance for all rescue missions and training. In the past, these volunteer groups have focused many hours on raising contributions to fund their training and equipment purchases. The sheriff's office will now assume some of these expenses, which shall allow for focus on training and actual search and rescue missions.

Sheriff Babeu has invited all members of SSR and SSAR to participate in the newly reorganized Pinal County Search and Rescue Posse, following an application and background investigation process. These volunteers will be sheriff’s office volunteers and will be bound by Sheriff’s Office Policy and covered under the sheriff’s office liability/Industrial insurance. The Pinal County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Posse will be led by PCSO Sergeant Brian Messing. The SAR Posse will be made up of Pinal Sheriff’s Office Deputies and unpaid volunteers who are specially trained for search and rescue operations. The SAR Posse will meet regularly and have the benefit of training together under the direction of Sgt. Messing and certified volunteers. This change will ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of SAR operations across Pinal County.

TO JOIN PCSO SAR POSSE Contact Sgt. Brian Messing at brian.messing@pinalcountyaz.gov