Duchesne County Sheriff

Travis Tucker

SEARCH & RESCUE VOLUNTEER JOB DESCRIPTION

Under close initial direction until proficiency has been demonstrated, individuals classified as Search and Rescue Volunteer (S&R) will answer to and perform duties assigned under the Search and Rescue Commander and/or the Sheriff or his/her designee of the Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office.

Search and Rescue members duties may include but is not limited to; high angle rescues, locating airplane or other crash sights, searching for missing subjects, overdue hiker, to rescue a stranded hiker, to assist on a back-countrywildfire incident, to perform evacuation duty during disasters, assisting detectives by searching for evidence in homicide and other criminal cases or any number of calls in which Search and Rescue skills are needed.

Search and Rescue members are prohibited from performing work that would normally be the exclusive responsibility of a regularly scheduled, full-time Sheriff’s Office Staff without approval. The final authority governing all aspects of Search and Rescue is the Sheriff, or his/her designee.

The Search and Rescue works in various office and outdoor settings, including time inside the Search and Rescue building/vehicles and also spent traveling in a police type vehicle. Work is performed in all weather conditions including extreme rain, wind, snow and heat. Work is often dangerous or under emergency circumstances requiring some physical activity and exertion. The outside working conditions include dirt, mud, snow, thick vegetation, water and streets.

Physical demands include standing, walking and sitting for extended periods of time, may be required to hear and distinguish between different sounds, use tools or equipment requiring a high degree of dexterity; work for sustained periods of time maintaining concentrated attention to detail; distinguish between colors, run, stoop, bend, crawl, climb ladders and steep inclines, carry and/or push, pull or otherwise move objects weighing up to 50 lbs. objects, taste, smell and any other physical movement in the performance of voluntary public safety duties.

The Volunteer may be required to use computers in the office, printers, FAX machine, 2-way radio, camera, animal capturing devices, copy machine and telephone. Some duties such as specifically approved assignments may be allowed to be conducted at the home of a volunteer but only through the approval of the Sheriff or his/her designee and only on a single basis only. Volunteer may also use All Terrain Vehicles (ATV's), Snowmobiles, chainsaws, winches and other related rescue equipment and vehicles. The Volunteer may also be required to use an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) receiver when searching for downed aircraft.