- Saturday September 27th, 2014 :: 07:46 a.m. PDT
Get to Know the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Malibu Search and #Rescue Team #LASD
Get to Know the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Malibu Search and Rescue Team
Vehicle over the side, natural disaster and injured hiker. These are every day terms in the life of a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Malibu Search and Rescue Team member. Founded in 1977, the Malibu Search and Rescue (SAR) Team is one of eight teams within the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. While there are hundreds of public and private rescue teams throughout the country, the Malibu SAR team is unique in that they are mostly all sworn reserve deputies with law enforcement capabilities. This provides them more resources and capabilities while enabling them to work seamlessly with other agencies when out in the field. Most commonly, the team works hand in hand with the LA County Fire Department, California Highway Patrol, and State and National Parks.
While the team consists of sworn reserve deputies and civilian volunteers and specialists, all members are volunteers who typically maintain full time jobs outside the department. On call 24/7, members of the team are mentally and physically prepared to be summoned by the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Department an average of 2-3 times per week. Rescuing and retrieving injured hikers, vehicle occupants that have intentionally or accidentally driven off the side of the area’s many canyons, evacuating neighborhoods during fires and floods, rescuing stranded or injured hikers, and/or maintaining containments for suspects on the loose are typical calls for service for the team. Each member is specially trained to navigate the mountainous terrain that the average citizens and even deputies are unable to access. Totaling roughly 90-125 rescue and recovery missions each year, the team plays a very active role within the Malibu/Lost Hills jurisdiction.
The necessity of a Search and Rescue Team is apparent to anyone who has driven through the Lost Hills area. Hiking trails, camp grounds, rock pools, rock climbing, beach access, as well as the miles of canyon roads to get to these attractions create the potential for many different mishaps or injuries that require the abilities of the SAR team. Team members are extremely familiar with the 187 miles of Santa Monica Mountain area that run through the Malibu/Lost Hills jurisdiction, a knowledge base that is invaluable to the Sheriff’s Department and its community. It is imperative that the team is comprised of highly skilled and specialized individuals. Malibu SAR team members are all trained in medical and triage situations; all are EMT trained, and some are even doctors and nurses and are able to lend their expertise while in the field.
As soon as the 9-1-1 dispatch center at the Malibu/Lost hills Sheriff’s Station determines that the search and rescue team is needed, a page is sent to all team members. Anyone who is available is expected to respond, which they coordinate amongst themselves. While they may need to meet in the station parking lot for certain responses, most calls for service require them to respond straight to the scene of incident. Because of this, all of the basic and necessary equipment is kept in personal vehicles so that they are able to respond in the quickest way possible and without stopping to pick up additional equipment. At the direction of the Sheriff’s Department, the team can be sent to any location within the LASD jurisdiction to assist other teams.
To become a Reserve Deputy, you must be at least 21 years of age, and be a U.S. Citizen. You must also submit an application, pass a background check, pass a psychological exam, and complete the law enforcement academy. Once applicants complete the academy, they will be trained by the search and rescue team. Team training includes rescue rope systems, rappelling, climbing, snow and ice operations, swift water operations, helicopter operations, wild-land fire operations, search operations, interface with other emergency service providers, and navigation and area intelligence. In addition, all team members must obtain and retain a minimum medical training to the level of an EMT. Expect to volunteer about 20 hours of service, which includes training and call-outs.
The team primarily relies on private donations to supply the equipment that the county does not cover. 100% of funds donated go towards equipment, and the team appreciates donations of any amount.
For any questions, please email the team’s captain at [email protected]
For an appointment to submit an application, contact the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Department Reserve Coordinator's office at (818) 878-1808 during regular business hours. For more detailed information on the team, please visit www.MalibuSAR.org. You can also follow Malibu SAR on Facebook at Malibu Search and Rescue and on Twitter @Malibusar.
Prepared by: LET Heather Fuquay
Media Release Date: September 27, 2014
* Lost Hills Sheriff's Station polices the Cities of Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Malibu and Westlake Village, and the unincorporated communities of Chatsworth Lake Manor, Malibu Lake, Topanga, and West Hills:
For further information contact:
Malibu / Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
27050 Agoura Road
Agoura, CA 91301
(818) 878-1808
Website: www.LostHills.lasd.org
LASD HQ Text and Emails: http://www.Nixle.com
http://nixle.com/lasd---malibulost-hills-station-los-angeles-county-sheriff/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LostHillsSheriffsStation
Twitter https://twitter.com/LHSLASD
Address/Location
LASD - Malibu/Lost Hills Station, Los Angeles County Sheriff
27050 Agoura Rd
Calabasas, CA 91301
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 818-878-1808