New Mexico Search and Rescue

All search and rescue incidents in New Mexico are coordinated by the New Mexico State Police Division.  The primary resources for these incidents are volunteers.  In the 20 years since the search and rescue law was passed, these volunteers have been activated thousands of times.  Hundreds of people owe their lives to these unselfish citizens.

...That Others May Live...

Currently, there is a Search and Rescue mission in New Mexico every 36 hours. Missions include overdue aircraft, lost hunters, lost children, drowning, climbers, hikers, skiers, fishermen, or other users our great New Mexico outdoors.

History

The New Mexico Search And Rescue Act was made law in 1978. Even though this law is over 16 years old, it is still considered by many as one of the most efficient search and rescue acts in the US today.

All search and rescue missions in New Mexico are controlled by the New Mexico State Police.

Volunteers

The Act recognizes the value of volunteer citizens who freely give their time and dedication to help save lives in our forests, deserts, and wilderness areas.

There are over 100 certified volunteer search and rescue Field Coordinators. Once activated, the volunteer Coordinator has the authority and responsibility to manage any search and rescue mission. They can activate resources such as Federal, State, Local, or other volunteers that may be able to aid in the search and rescue mission.

To become a certified Search and Rescue Coordinator, the applicants must be 21 years of age, they must possess a strong background in search and rescue, and they must have experience in the outdoors and the management of people. The applicant must complete a 40-hour search and rescue management course, sponsored by the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy, and serve as a trainee coordinator on a minimum of five missions before becoming a fully certified search and rescue Incident Commander.

Each volunteer Coordinator is expected to respond to at least 1/3 of the missions that they are called to participate in.

Other volunteers offer their time and skills to belong to search and rescue teams. Many of these teams specialize in areas such as man tracking, high angle technical rescue, cave rescue, water recovery, missing aircraft, dog search teams, horse search teams, and 4WD search teams.

To volunteer, click here to contact a local team on this list.

Administrative Organization

Click here for other organizations charts.

The contact point for all search and rescue is the New Mexico State Search and Rescue Office located in the New Mexico Department of Public Safety complex in Santa Fe.

Voice: (505) 827-9228
FAX: (505) 827-3395
e-mail: James.Newberry@state.nm.us