SARDUS teams can respond form the counties marked in red

Our mission is to assist law enforcement serve the needs of the community

Human Remains Detection (HRD)- 21 certified teams These teams are specialized in locating human remains, including bones, tissue and fluids such as blood and full cadavers.  How our teams can help you: locating clandestine graves investigation of crimes where blood or other fluids may be present teams are trained to search in heavily contaminated urban areas, large wilderness areas, and disaster zones teams are trained in crime scene preservation and many of the teams are law enforcement professionals Example: HRD teams are often asked by law enforcement to search vehicles in tow yards for concealed human remains, major crime scenes for fluid evidence, and areas of interest that may contain buried human remains. Handlers testify in court as necessary and our experienced handlers are available as expert witnesses.

Wilderness Air Scent Teams- 9 certified teams These teams are the traditional wilderness search and rescue teams.  They are trained to search large areas (160 acres in 2 hours) in the wilderness, using the wind to locate lost people.  These teams have demonstrated the skills necessary to search in the backcountry and to be self sustained for one operational period.

Water Search Teams- 9 teams certified to search from shoreline and in open water. Water search teams are used to recover victims that have drowned.  These teams are used to search either from shoreline or from a boat in open water.  These specially trained teams can help pinpoint the location of the submerged body to assist divers in recovery.

Avalanche- 4 teams certified to search avalanche debris fields. Avalanche search teams are used to locate survivors and recover victims that have been buried by avalanches..  These teams require special educational and training to work in often difficult and dangerous conditions. These teams most be proficient working in the back-country and have the specialized equipment to work in the back country and ski resorts.

Urban/wilderness Trailing Teams- 11 certified teams  These teams are trained to investigate human scent in heavily contaminated areas.  They are different from tracking dogs and can follow a person through urban areas 2- 12 hours after they go missing.  These are the only nationally certified urban trailing teams in the region.  These teams also can search in the non-contaminated wilderness environment.  Our teams can assist you: locate Alzheimer's patients that have gone missing locate victims or evidence in child abductions investigate and locate missing people in municipalities investigate crimes where it is important to follow the path of a suspect (peeping Toms, burglars, sexual predators) locate lost parties during search and rescue operations   Example:  A trailing dog was used in investigation the abduction of 11-year old Carlie Brucia.  The team was not able to locate the victim but was able to follow the path she walked.  The path took her past a car wash where the abduction was filmed on video surveillance, resulting in the arrest of the suspect and the location of her remains.

Disaster Dog Teams- 3 certified teams, 2 FEMA equivalent level 2 disaster live teams and 1 HRD team   SARDUS is working with Federal, State and local agencies setting up disaster dog teams that can respond on a local level to disasters in the first operational period.  These teams are tested to the FEMArequirements and our organization is made up of FEMA dog handlers and evaluators.  Our teams have responded to most of the major US and international disasters from the Oklahoma City bombing to the recent earthquakes in Haiti. Our goal is to provide access to dog team resources within the first operational period when there is the best chance of recovering victims alive.  These resources can bridge the gap until Federal resources can be put into place.