NM Search & Rescue Review Board

When the Search and Rescue Act was put into law in 1978, the Act created the New Mexico Search and Rescue Review Board. A Governor-appointed board that evaluates the operation of the New Mexico Search and Rescue Plan, problems on specific missions, and makes recommendation to the appropriate authorities.

 

The board is comprised of:

• The Secretary of Public Safety or designee
• The Secretary of Health and Environment or designee
• A representative of the Civil Air Patrol division of the Department of Military Affairs
• A representative of the New Mexico Emergency Services Council
• A member certified as a search and rescue person
• A member of the New Mexico Sheriffs Association
• The Chief of the New Mexico State Police
• The New Mexico Search and Rescue Resource Officer (non-voting)
• A member of the general public who shall act as chairman

SAR Review Board Members:

• Mr. Stock Colt, Chairman
• Deputy Chief Pete Kassetas, New Mexico State Police
• Major Mark Umprovitch, New Mexico Department of Public Safety
• Mr. Kyle Thornton, New Mexico Department of Health
• Major John Gravel, Civil Air Patrol
• Mr. Duane Clark, New Mexico Sheriffs’ and Police Association
• Ms. Frankie Benoist, New Mexico Search and Rescue
• Mr. Bob Baker, New Mexico Search and Rescue Council (formally New Mexico Emergency Services Council)
• Mr. Bob Rodgers, New Mexico State Police, Search and Rescue Resource Officer

The SRB will meet at 9:00 am on July 26, 2013 at the Department of Public Safety, 4491 Cerrillos Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87504.

Agenda Items for the July 26th meeting will be matters relating to department policy pursuant to NMSA 1978, Section 24-15A-6.

Copies of the agenda will be available 24 hours prior to the meeting.  If you desire a copy, or if you are an individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or any form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the meeting, please contact the Department of Public Safety, New Mexico State Police Search and Rescue Bureau, at 4491 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504 or at 505-827-9228 as soon as possible.

New Mexico Search and Rescue Review Board

Regular Meeting

 

Draft Meeting Minutes

April 26, 2013

(These Minutes have not yet been formally approved by the SAR Review Board, and therefore are subject to revision at the time of formal approval.)

 

1.  Call to Order: 

The meeting was called to order by Acting Chairman Major John Gravel at 9:13 a.m., at the African American Performing Arts Center located at 310 San Pedro Northeast, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

 

2.  Members Present:   

Frankie Benoist, Certified Member of Search and Rescue

Duane Clark, Sheriffs and Police Association

Major John Gravel, Civil Air Patrol Representative

Bob Rodgers, State Resource Officer

Charles Shroeder, New Mexico Department of Health

Major Mark Umprovitch, Secretary of Public Safety Designee

Not Present:

Bob Baker, Representative of New Mexico Search and Rescue Council

Chairman Stock Colt, Member of the General Public

Kyle Thornton, Department of Health

A quorum was declared present.

 

3.  Consent Agenda:

 

Motion was made by Ms. Benoist to accept the Minutes; seconded by Major Umprovitch.   The motion carried unanimously.

 

Motion was made by Mr. Rodgers to change the agenda in order to discuss a new team application for canines; seconded by Ms. Benoist.

 

4.  Core business:

Mr. Rodgers provided a report pertaining to the number of SAR missions which included hospitalizations and deaths.

 

(Deputy Chief Pete Kassetas entered the meeting at this time)

 

A motion was made by Ms. Benoist for the SARRB to review SAR plan revisions within thirty days and then disseminate to the SAR community for thirty days.  Major Umprovitch suggested a more specific time frame.  The SARRB will review the SAR plan revisions by May 31, 2013.  Mr. Rodgers will place the updated SAR plan on the DPS website by June 3, 2013, for community review.  The SAR community will review said plans by June 28, 2013, and provide any recommendations to Mr. Rodgers; seconded by Mr. Shroeder.  The motion carried unanimously.

A motion was made by Major Umprovitch to continue with the same protocol in regards to the proposed disciplinary and appeal process until he can discuss the matter further with Mr. Baker; seconded by Mr. Shroeder.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

5.  New Business:

         

• Applications for working canines.
• Criteria for team certification

 

A motion was made by Deputy Chief Kassetas to approve and utilize canine teams for SAR missions and direct all questions to Mr. Rodgers; seconded by Ms. Benoist.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Rodgers proposing that he would compile recommendations for criteria for team recognition which he would present at the next SARRB; seconded by Ms. Benoist.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

6.  Matters from the Public:

 

An inquiry was made in reference to the possibility of listing individual tracking resources in the SAR Resource Directory.  After a series of discussions it was decided to check into the possibility of developing a tracking team to be utilized statewide.

 

An inquiry was made in reference to the validity of the Field Certification Program and how to address certification of SAR volunteers. The SAR Resource Officer will re-evaluate the program and potentially make it a team criteria for recognition.

 

An inquiry was made in reference to the state’s insurance policy for SAR responders.  Deputy Chief Kassetas will inquire about the Risk Management Program in regards to SAR responders.  The SAR Resource Officer will make copies of the medical insurance policy available to the SAR community.

 

A question was asked in regards to whether DPS was responsible for providing personal protective equipment.  In summary, it was determined that DPS can provide some equipment for use in hazardous situations.

 

The SARRB was invited by the chairman of the New Mexico Search and Rescue Council to attend the ESCAPE conference on May 10, 2013, at the Ruidoso Convention Center.

7.  Closing Business:

The next SARRB will be on July 26, 2013, at 9:00 a.m., in the New Mexico State Police Chief’s Conference Room located at 4491 Cerrillos Rd., Santa Fe, New Mexico.

 

8.  Adjourn:

 

          Motion to adjourn was made by Deputy Chief Kassetas and seconded by Major Mark Umprovitch which passed unanimously at 10:44 a.m.

 

Minutes submitted by:  Kelly L. Miller, Recording Secretary/Administrative Assistant, New                                               Mexico State Police Special Operations Bureau

Minutes approved by:   Major John Gravel, Acting Chairman, SARRB