From the President’s Desk

Posted on June 30, 2010 by admin

newsar120x90     The first part of 2010 has brought both changes and challenges to NEWSAR. Some of these changes are good, like Gary Genova’s promotion to lieutenant of the Vermont State Police (see article below). As he moves up in to this position, it has required more of his time to focus on that job. We congratulate Gary in his promotion but he will be missed as the NEWSAR President. Gary has become Vice President and I will take the helm as President. I am thankful for Gary’s years of leadership.

After years of service as an Massachusetts State Police K-9 handler, trainer, and supervisor Neil Raymond retired at the end of May (see article on page 4). Neil’s knack of bridging the gap between the police and civilians in SAR was above and beyond the call. He will continue his commitment to NEWSAR and K-9 training.

Rick Toman – as many of you know due to budget cuts in Massachusetts State Police budget –– was laid off from his position of Civilian SAR Coordinator. This has caused a giant hole in the SAR training of civilians and police in the state of Mass. I don’t think anyone had any idea how much training Rick did. The Massachusetts State SAR Committee had to be formed just to try to find some training solutions to replace some of the things that Rick provided. We know that even with Rick back in Vermont, he is never far away from the SAR community. We at NEWSAR ask for your patience as we try to help fill part of the training gaps. Not just by Rick’s departure, but because of budget cuts all over.

Speaking of training, one of the best values available for training is NEWSAR’s Annual Training. We are returning to Vermont Criminal Justice Training Academy in Pittsford, VT. Annual Training is a great place to pick up some needed classes not given by your team or in your area or to try a new experience not tried before. A tentative agenda is below and look for a thorough briefing in our special Annual Training Newsletter, hitting your e-mail sometime in August. Sign up early and please let us know when you plan on arriving and what activities you are interested in. This information will help with staffing and planning of the various activities and will help to minimize waiting time.  See you in September!

Larry Evanchick
Rensselaer County Search and Rescue
President, Northeast Wilderness Search and Rescue

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2010 Annual Training & Registration

Posted on May 18, 2010 by admin

Vermont Criminal Justice Training Academy – Pittsford, VT 

September 24, 25 & 26, 2010   

Registration

Any Questions Contact: dano@newsar.org 

Friday – Mock search including the following activates:   

• Trailing & tracking north of Brandon – trails of various lengths
• Command post set up in Brandon –command Post work for those interested
• Article search problem (K-9 or Grid team)
• Water searching with K-9s (must have had some land HRD training)–boats will be available so you can see what it is like to work from a boat
• Building search – Search buildings in and around the Brandon area
• Air Scent problem – for those handler working toward testing – find an individual in a wooded 25 to 40 acre problem
• Land HRD – An area with various hides to locate
• Other field activities to be determined

Saturday & Sunday activities
• Suburban searching
• Searching autos with K-9s
• Modern search management
• Preparing for divers
• SAR dog training with Steve Mackenzie, Ph.D.
• Building search
• Tracking & trailing
• Building a search & rescue team that will last
• Crime Scene Preservation
• SAR Responder II classes (POD, CASIE and other classes as needed such as GPS, Map & Compass, SAR packs)
•Tactical Team Leader – Advanced Only Completed MLPI or MSM

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