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  • From: Una Smith <una.smith@att.net>
  • To: Mounted search and rescue <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [MSAR] Posse / MSAR
  • Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:49:56 -0700

Dana Ferguson wrote:
>I was wondering if there has been a split between the Posse
>and MSAR in the Sheriff?s Departments out there.

There always is tension between these two roles, and in many places
there are separate parade posse and MSAR groups. It can go either
way and the best choice for you depends on your local circumstances.
Sometimes a single organization does both, but in that case often
there will be some separation of activities within the organization.
Some members can be relied on to ride in all parades and rodeos,
but are not on the callout list for SAR missions, and vice versa.

Where trouble lies is in having one organization and expecting all
members to do both parade/rodeo work and SAR missions.


>Example:
>
>The Posse performs: parades, rodeos, and PR work for the
>Sheriff. Ours just cut fair parking lot and concert
>security from their mission.

Normal, both ways. I really dislike parking lot detail at events
where alcohol is sold; far too many drunk drivers, far too high risk
of accidents, to do that work for free or a nominal payment to the
unit of $100 or so.


>The MSAR performs: SAR assistance and is part of the SAR
>Organization as a specialty skill like K9 or Diver.

Fairly often, the MSAR unit is separate from other SAR groups in
the county. If your MSAR unit can merge and stay merged with the
other SAR specialties, I think that is a good thing.


>We are having some re-organization growing pains in ours
>right now due to a new Sheriff....

Situation normal, hopefully not AFU.


>How many units out there wear the Sheriff/Deputy uniform in
>their Posse and or have a badge and gun when performing
>their mission?

Judging by photos on websites, I would say about half of all MSAR
units (posse or otherwise) wear public safety type uniforms during
parades and rodeos. Almost all units with Sheriff in their name
do so. None that I know of wear public safety uniforms during SAR
missions; the common view in the SAR community is that uniforms
signifying authority scare the subject and others more than they
help.

MSAR volunteers who are reserve officers may wear a badge and gun.
A small minority of MSAR units today are reserve officer groups,
but formerly this was very common. As far as I know, here in New
Mexico only one MSAR unit still requires reserve officer status,
and they are not a sheriff's posse; that is a separate group that
does rodeos and parades. Many MSAR units and sheriff's posse
groups drop the reserve officer requirement because it requires
(1) continuity of supportive relations with the sheriff's office,
(2) long hours of non-SAR training and service, and (3) the cost of
ammunition for annual firearm recertification.

In some states it is very common for civilian SAR volunteers and
backcountry riders more generally to wear or carry guns.

Una Smith
New Mexico




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