Search & Rescue Orgs

 

Directory of Search & Rescue Professionals Associated With The Missing Americans Project

BELIZE

Gustavo, Giron – Belize City, Belize

(Organization: Aerial SAR)

ggiron@astrumhelicopters.com

 

Shepherd, Raymond Winston -- Belize City, Belize

ray4s1@yahoo.com / aircraft pilot

 

CALIFORNIA

Flesher, Jason – Fairfax, California

(Organization: 1SRG)

 

COSTA RICA

Campos, Jose – San Jose, Costa Rica – panajungla1@hotmail.com

 

FLORIDA

Avila, Sharon -- New Port Richey, Florida -- 727-439-1569

Founder & Director of Operations (past) – K-9 Search & Rescue Teams of Florida

Served on Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) project subcommittee for microbial source tracking with canines

Training Director – K-9 Training Centers of Florida

K-9 Handler (past) NASAR SAR Tech Evaluator (past)

Trained in Incident Command, Rope Rescue, Hazmat, & Management of the K-9 Unit Instructor and Evaluator for Human Remains Detection (HRD)

Author of HRD instructional manuals

Conducted and oversaw domestic and international deployments

Worked extensively with the Comision de la Verdad in Panama on Human Rights Violation cases

 

Beddow, DJ – Punta Gorda, Florida 

(Organization: S.W. K-9 SAR)

Member of Southwest Florida K9 Search Unit in Naples, FL

K-9 Handler specializing in Tracking and Human Remains Detection Incident Command Training First Responder Training

 

Bodah, Michael – Naples, Florida – 239-263-9609

Member of Southwest Florida K9 Search Unit in Naples, FL

Human Remains Detection Trained and handle three operational Human Remains Detection animals. Third animal certified at ten months of age.

First operational certificate dates to 2003.

Certifications on three canines from K-9 Training Centers, NNDDA, NIMS Level III with AWD and NAPWDA.

Aided on searches in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, West Virginia & South Carolina Associated with the National Search Dog Alliance, the North American Police Work Dog Association and the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR)

 

Bodah, Michele – Naples, Florida – 239-263-9609

Member of Southwest Florida K9 Search Unit in Naples, FL

Human Remains Detection Extensive training in Incident Management and NIMS reporting Trained and handle one operational Human Remains Detection animal.

First operational certificate dates to 2010 Certifications on one canine from NAPWDA Aided on searches in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, West Virginia & South Carolina Associated with the National Search Dog Alliance, the North American Police Work Dog Association and the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR)

 

Burton, Shelly – Brandon, Florida – Michaelle6@aol.com

Independent K-9 Handler located in Tampa Fl.

I work a 2 yr Dutch Shepherd named Mi'ja Certified through these agencies: North American Police Working Dog Association (NAPWDA) Northern States Search Dog Network (NSSDN) National Organization Certifying Search And Rescue (NOCSAR)

 

Coffman, Tammie, Orlando, Florida

407- 739-7626 Florida Alliance of Search and Rescue K-9, Inc. (FASAR K-9)   www.fasark-9.org ;

Founding member and team trainer of FASAR K-9, Involved in SAR since 2005, participated in numerous searches in Florida, canine has been certified through NNDDA, CCC, NASAR and NAPWDA.

I currently work 1 canine certified in Human Remains Detection (HRD) for Land, Vehicle, Building, & Disaster HRD Forensic.   Logan has his CGC through AKC.   I am a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Evaluator through AKC. Training/certified in for following:   SAR Tech II, Incident Command, ICS 100, 200, 700, 800B, Haz Mat Awareness, Adult/Child/Infant CPR/AED, First Aide, Bloodborne Pathogens, Crime Scene Preservation, Water Awareness, PADI Diver, and FCC Amateur Radio License Technician.

 

Dodds, Al – Orange Park Florida American K9, deployed to Iraq (Feb. 2007 – July 2007; Dec. 2007 – March 2009) provided US Army K9 search team (Tess & myself) for missing American searches, coalition forces, Iraqi nationals, mass graves, etc.

Dogs South K9 SAR, Inc. – (June 2006 – 2007) served on call outs and training exercises with Dogs South. North Florida Search & Rescue Inc., (Jan. 2004 – June 2006) personally trained K9s for Air scent Search & Rescue and HRD (Human Remains Detection)

OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Georgia Emergency Management Agency – (GMEA)

Rescue Specialist NASAR: SARTECH III FEMA: completed independent studies: I-100, I-195, I-011, I-00001

American Red Cross – First Aid/AED & CPR US Navy K9 Corps: military K9 service (1967 - 1971) – attended Armed Forces Security School & Sentry Dog School;

Served as K9 trainer/handler with sentry dog unit, DaNang, Republic of Vietnam (1967-1969)

K-9 Credentials First generation American GSD,

Born from imported CKS and East German parents (2/2003)

Pedigree available upon request

AKC: Canine Good Citizen Southern K-9 Search & Rescue Training Center: Basic Certification (HRD wilderness, water)

K9 Training Center of Florida: certified Basic & Intermediate (HRD: wilderness, urban & water)

GEMA license, issued: Nov. ‘06

National Narcotics Detector Dog Association, Inc (NNDDA): certified Cadaver Dog Team, Land & Water, Certified: Jan.’06, Dec.’06

International Police Working Dog Association (IPWDA): certified Cadaver Dog Team, Land & Water, Certified: March ‘06

US ARMY, HRD validations: Aug. ’08, Nov. ’08, Feb. ‘09 AWARDS/Recognitions:

- Diamond Dog Food Labor Dog Award Winner, 2007 o AKC ACE (Award Canine Excellence) Service Dog category: Honorable Mention, 2008

- MWDTSA (Military Working Dog Team Support Association)

- “Hero” Dog of the Year, 2008

 

Duffy, Ed – Valrico, Florida – wert178@yahoo.com

 

Grace, Mya– Largo, Florida

Ongoing training-K9 Handler Live Find and Human Remains, Service Assistance Dogs, Agility and Obedience Retired Heavy Equipment Operator

FEMA Certified ICS 100, ICS 200, IS 700

NIMS Amateur Radio License

Red Cross Adult/Child First Aid, CPR,

AED First Responder Disaster Pinellas County

CERT Member since 2005

Search and Rescue Planning, Techniques and Safety Disaster Psychology WMD/Terrorist Event Recognition, Planning and Response Structural Collapse Fire Suppression Hazmat Awareness

Largo Florida Citizen Police Academy

Crime Scene Preservation Courtroom Testimony

Animal First Aid and CPR

Backpack Survival Class Training for SAR TECH II

 

Griffith, Monica – Lorida, Florida

 

Holycross, Teri  -- De Land, Florida

407-832-8886 

Florida Alliance of Search and Rescue K-9, Inc. (FASAR K-9)

www.fasark-9.org ;

Founding member and team trainer of FASAR K-9, Involved in SAR since 2003, participated in numerous searches across the southeast, canines have certifications through one or more of the following certifying agencies K-9 Training Centers of Florida, NASAR and NAPWDA.  

Work 3 canines certified in Human Remains Detection (HRD) for Land, Vehicle, Building, Water HRD & Disaster HRD Forensic.  

Work 3 canines certified in Live Find for two in Trailing and one in Area Search and Disaster Live find.  

All canines have their Canine Good Citizen (CGC) through AKC.

Lead Evaluator for NASAR for Land HRD, Trailing type III, Area Search type III, Disaster Live and Disaster HRD and working to complete my Lead Evaluator for NASAR in Area Search type II and Water HRD. Training/certified in for following:   SAR Tech II, Retired firefighter/Paramedic, Incident Command, ICS 100, 200, 700, 800B, Rope Rescue I, II, & III, Haz Mat Technician, Adult/Child/Infant CPR/AED, First Aide, Bloodborne Pathogens, Crime Scene Preservation, Water Awareness, Basic Water Rescue, PADI Diver, Canine 1st Aide, Canine Emergency Medical Care, Missing Children and Searching for the Victims of Sexual Assault and Homicide, Management Lost Alzheimer's Patient Search, Who Rescues the Rescuer, FCC Amateur Radio License Technician, Structural Collapse Rescue Technician and Confined Space.

 

Picard, Roger – Oldsmar, Florida - K9Picard@gmail.com

Member of Florida state and federal USAR/FLTF2 and FLTF3 K9 handler since 1996

2 certified FEMA search dogs: one dog does HRD

Employer Tampa Fire Rescue

Current State of Florida Paramedic

 

Thigpin, Judy – Gainesville, Florida - (352) 378-5291

K-9 Handler - Williston Fire Department K-9 Unit (2006-Williston-Marion Cty Interagency Search Team)

DOT First Responder Certified

Hug-A-Tree Presenter

SAR TECH II National Association of Search and Rescue Sara Title III Hazardous Materials Awareness

Basic Rope I, Florida State Fire College

NASAR Canine SAR TECH III Evaluator Associate Trainer for Class Act for Dogs, Obedience

FCC Amateur Radio License Technician

 

Totillo, Pat – Orange City, Florida – (Organization: K-9 Search and Rescue Teams of Orange City) – k9saroc@cfl.rr.com

Founding member and team trainer for K9SAR of Orange City, Florida Involved in search and rescue since 2001 Participated in over a hundred searches across the southeast. Certified canines thru LETS, NNDDA, NASAR, NAPWDA and NSDA.

Currently works two canines certified for HRD land and water.

Lead Evaluator for NASAR for HRD Land and Water

Principal Evaluator for Land HRD and Water for NSDA

Evaluator for AKC Canine Good Citizen CGC tests.

Certified Professional Dog Trainer - KA. Wade, Theresa – Odessa, Florida – canupadltoo@cs.com

 

GEORIGA

Batten, Angela M. – Jesup, Georgia - 912-266-2753

Founding member of Dogs South K-9 Search and Rescue, based in Jesup, Ga.

Team leader, search coordinator, K-9 trainer and K-9 handler for trailing, air scent and cadaver detection dogs. Coordinated and worked my personally trained and nationally certified K-9s: Zena, DeDe and Mick on over 300 searches throughout the Southern United States including Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and one search in Ecuador, South America. My cadaver dog DeDe and I also worked 6 weeks as a civilian contractor in Iraq searching for bodies of missing soldiers employed by American K-9. My K-9’s and I are experienced in various terrains such as urban, woodland, swampland, water, disaster and landfill. Proficient in search pre-planning, search management, K-9 handler, GPS usage and usage of GPS/computer mapping of search areas to aid in accurate coverage.

 

Hilsman, William – McDonough, Georgia – 678-410-7295 – k9sarhilsman@bellsouth.net

Georgia Piedmont Region K9 SAR (President) K-9 Handler for 11 years with emphasis in live find and cadaver NASAR SAR TECH 11 Certified in cadaver NSDA cadaver Principal Evaluator Ham radio license FEMA independent study courses IS-001, IS-00005.A, IS-00100, IS-00200, IS-195, IS-00700 GEMA Rescue Specialist classes Awareness for Initial Response to Hazardous Materials Incidents Blood Bourne Pathogens Course CERT Community Emergency Response Team Training Crime Scene Preservation Training GEMA Canine Search Specialist K-9 First Aid Training First Aid and CPR

 

Parsons, Lyn – Jesup, Georgia – sark9rudy@yahoo.com / 912-228-3967

 

Walker, Brett C. – 614 Lotus Road. Wray, Georgia 31798– (229)457-2344 - brettwalker@windstream.net Member of Dogs South K-9 Search and Rescue, based in Jesup, Georgia Certified K-9 “Naudia” through the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) Active in Search and Recovery operations since 2006 Worked with Georgia Bureau of Investigation and many other Law Enforcement Agencies throughout Georgia and Florida on drowning and land recoveries. Assisted with obedience classes with Jacob Weaver of ACTS K-9 GEMA Rescue Specialist GEMA Awareness for Initial Response to Hazardous Materials Incidents Incident Command Systems 0001, 100, 200, 700 FCC Amateur Radio License- K9NDA Emergency Medical Technician Basic Certificate of Completion Emergency Medical Technician Intermediate Certificate of Completion Currently Working on a Bachelors of Science Degree Licensed annually through the Georgia Emergency Management Agency as a Human Remains Detector Dog Handler. AKC Canine Good Citizen

 

MAINE

  Bowie, Richard – Orono, Me. – cencom@juno.com -207-866-2109 (o) 207-745-4796 (c) www.deemi.org Director of Operations for Down East Emergency Medicine Institute (DEEMI) Masters of Science in Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience Currently pursuing a doctorate in biomedical engineering DEEMI members bring medical expertise, while others such as pilots bring military and civilian training with them to our aviation assets. Computer technicians, digital photography experts, and support personnel make this organization unique and diverse in its approach and training. We operate a unique aerial imaging platform using high resolution cameras at low level to detect colors knows to be worn by individuals who are lost We also can support operations remotely as we did in the Belize helicopter search

 

Jones, Julie – Brewer, Maine (Organization: VK9) – jrjones@maine.edu / 207-735-4350 MISSOURI Clark, Robert – Springfield, Missouri – robsark9@aol.com K-9 Handler 10 yrs HRD, Tracking NASAR SAR TECH 2 IC Command staff First responder K-9 first aid Amateur Radio "K9HRD" Evidence preservation HazMat NASAR Evaluator ST2 K-9 HRD, Tracking Search Planning NEBRASKA Ginsberg, Dj – Omaha, Nebraska – 402-331-3898/402-319-6324 (Organization: U.S. ATV SAR)

 

NORTH CAROLINA

Morgan, Mac – Wendell, North Carolina – ncsark9@bellsouth.net

 

OHIO

Rowley, Christopher – Dayton Ohio (Organization: VIASAR)

 

WASHINGTON

Sanson, Greg – Currently in Iraq / Home state: Washington (Organization: Personnel Recovery Mission Officer & Advisor to DOD)

 

WISCONSIN

Garfunkel, Sarah DVM – Grantsburg, WI - (715) 488-2846-h / (715) 566-3069-c sardog@grantsburgtelcom.net Owner, lead K9 trainer - Advanced Canine Training (ACT), Grantsburg, WI K-9 Emergency Response Team (KERT): K-9 Resource Manager and K-9 Handler Northern States Search Dog Network (NSSDN): K-9 Handler and evaluator National Assoc. of Search and Rescue (NASAR): Evaluator, Lead Evaluator Personally trained and certified 4 K9’s through regional and national organizations (NASAR, FASAR, NSSDN (Northern States Search Dog Network), LETS, NOCDS, NNDDA, NASDN) in multiple disciplines: air-scent, land and water HRD, USAR, trailing and evidence search; professionally trained multiple K9’s for individuals and agencies who have certified in air-scent, land and water HRD, USAR and evidence search Classes/training completed: FEMA IS- 100, 200, 700, 800, Haz-Mat Awareness, Ropes Rescue, Crime scene preservation, First Responder, Ice Rescue Technician, Advanced Search Management, Preparing for the Wilderness Emergency, Amateur Radio License- Technician No-code, OSHA Blood-borne Pathogens and Respiratory Protection Training experience: Instructor at numerous local and national K9 SAR seminars/workshops since 1995 including NASDN, NOCDS, TSARDA, and Shreveport Fire Dept.; classes taught: HRD, air-scent, USAR, K9 First Aid Other: K9 obedience and agility classes since 1987 Search experience: Over 200 searches; 70% cadaver, 30% live-find in 8 states and Canada including three weeks recovery work in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina; spent 11 months in Iraq working with the military as an HRD K9 handler. Current K9: 4 y/o male Flat-coated Retriever, “Gage”; certified land and water cadaver, air-scent, USAR; Certifications include: LETS, NASAR, NNDDA, NSSDN; extensive experience with all types of HRD, including skeletal, burned, rubble search