VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office

Reserves •  Search & Rescue • Dive Rescue

The Sheriff's Reserve is a volunteer non-profit organization financed through security work conducted by the reserve deputies themselves.  The Reserves are made up of volunteers from many walks of life from the Cowlitz County community.  Their goal is to assist the sheriff's office in routine duties such as patrol work, Community Oriented Policing, disasters, and search and rescue.  Come by the Sheriff's Office for an application or call 360-577-3147 for more information.

DO YOU WANT TO JOIN?
The Cowlitz County Sheriff's Reserve accepts applications for the position of volunteer Reserve Deputy Sheriff each fall. Applications are available at the Sheriff's Office. Minimum qualifications are:

• 21 years of age
• Valid Washington or Oregon driver's license
• No felony convictions
• Diploma/GED
• U.S. Citizen

Each applicant is required to complete an application, written aptitude test, pass a thorough background check and attend a six-month Reserve Academy that is held two nights a week and some Saturdays.  Upon completion of a State Certification Exam, the applicants will be accepted into the Reserve unit.  During the fall recruiting, applications may be obtained in person from the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office located in the Hall of Justice at 312 SW 1st Ave., Kelso, Washington.  Deputy Darren Ullmann is the Coordinator and can be contacted at (360) 577-3147.

Cowlitz County Search and Rescue Team is a composite team (they do a variety of different search functions) of volunteers from the community. Their mission is to save lives and reduce the suffering of the family members whose loved one is

The name was changed early in the 90's since they primarily serve Cowlitz County. However, they do respond upon request to any where in Washington State. The Team works under the direction of Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office.  By Washington State law the Sheriff's Office is mandated to be in charge of all Search and Rescues within their jurisdiction.  

"Currently we have about 60 unpaid volunteer team members. The Team has adopted the NASAR (National Association for Search and Rescue) standards, so we work towards those as well as the Washington State Standards. We currently have about 10 NASAR Tech III's and 20 NASAR Tech II's and 5 NASAR Tech I's. We have a Bus that was donated by Weyerhaeuser and we converted it into a Command Post. We have four four wheel drive vehicles and an equipment trailer. We train in Map and Compass, Navigation, First Aid, Wilderness Survival, Man Tracking, GPS use and much more."

Cowlitz County Dive Rescue

works with the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office to respond to any water-related incident. Sometimes it is a car the water, and other times it is a missing swimmer or someone who has fallen off a dock or out of a boat. We also respond to reports of boats in trouble. Dive Rescue also responds to flood incidents and swift water rescues. Dive Rescue holds monthly meetings and monthly trainings. 

Applications are available at the Sheriff's Office. Each team member must pass the background investigation. Members are not required to be divers. Members are needed for surface support even on those missions that require a dive. Members are people who can respond at anytime, day or night. The more you are available the better. Members are  people who know how to work as a team. If you are thinking about joining as a diver, remember Dive Rescue is called for any and all water-related incidents. The water is typically black with lots of debris. It is not recreational diving. Training is provided, but if people are timid or claustrophobic, they normally have a hard time diving in black water.

"We are all unpaid volunteers.  We are funded by donations from the community. Each team member buys their own equipment and pays for their own gas. The team does have one vehicle and a Zodiac boat. The maintenance of these vehicles comes out of the team’s funds, which is made up by small fundraisers and team dues."

• Cowlitz County Search and Rescue
• Cowlitz County Dive Rescue