Press Releases

On March 7th, 2020, the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit hosted the California Region Mountain Rescue Association Re-accreditation in tracking. Mountain Rescue Association teams are required to certify in three disciplines, Snow and Ice Rescue, Technical Rescue, and Tracking. 

During this grueling certification process, numerous role players posing as "victims" hiked into remote locations throughout the San Jacinto mountain range. Search teams were tasked with establishing a command post, locating sign at the "victim’s" last known location, and tracking the sign to the location of the victim. Search teams conducted medical evaluations of the victims, and extricated the victims to safety. 

Over 400 search and rescue volunteers from the following 23 Mountain Rescue Association teams participated in this event:

•    Altadena Mountain Rescue Team 

•    Bay Area Rescue Unit 

•    China Lake Mountain Rescue Group 

•    Contra Costra County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue 

•    Douglas County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue 

•    Fresno County Search and Rescue 

•    Inyo Search and Rescue 

•    Malibu Search and Rescue 

•    Marin Search and Rescue 

•    Monterey County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue 

•    Montrose Search and Rescue 

•    Tehachapi Search and Rescue 

•    Placer Search and Rescue 

•    San Bernardino Cave and Technical Rescue Team 

•    San Bernardino West Valley Search and Rescue 

•    San Diego Mountain Rescue Team 

•    San Dimas Mountain Rescue 

•    Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue 

•    Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue 

•    Santa Clarita Valley Search and Rescue 

•    Sierra Madre Search and Rescue 

•    Ventura County Search and Rescue

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department would like to thank Camp Ronald McDonald for generously hosting this event. We would also like to thank Desert Search and Rescue, Riverside County Search Dogs, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Mountain Rescue Team for providing "victims" for this exercise. 

Riverside County search and rescue teams are an essential component of the Sheriff’s Department as they are primarily responsible for all search and rescue missions involving lost or stranded persons in the County of Riverside. Team members are highly trained for their environments and meet on a monthly basis at various locations within the county. Volunteers regularly respond to emergencies at all hours, day or night. "Service above self"

If you are interested in volunteering with one of our search and rescue teams, no prior experience is required. Applicants must be team-oriented, willing to learn and improve outdoor skills, and in good shape.

The Hemet Sheriff’s Station can be reached at (951) 791-3400.