Search and rescue operations suspended

SANDERS COUNTY – The search and rescue crew was suspended for one day pending the update of paperwork and rosters.

According to Sanders County Sheriff Tom Rummel, the search and rescue team was suspended on Tuesday, July 15.

“It was brought to my attention that the reporting required for Sanders County to pay Workers’ Compensation for search and rescue had lapsed,” Rummel said. “Due to liability, I had to suspend search and rescue operations.”

Workers’ Compensation is a state-sponsored system, which provides workers who were either injured or disabled on the job, monetary benefits.

Rummel said once the required documentation was provided to the Sanders County Clerk and Recorders office, and the Workers’ Compensation payments were made current, the search and rescue operations and activities would be reinstated.

Sanders County Commissioner Tony Cox said search and rescue was not only suspended from responding to calls, but all of their activities were halted.

“They were suspended as of yesterday (7/15) from all searches, meetings and trainings and access to any of their facilities and equipment until further notice,” Cox said.

He explained the crew was supposed to give quarterly reports and supply rosters in order for the county to pay for Workers’ Compensation coverage. With the paperwork behind, Cox said the personnel would not be covered as required by law, hence the suspension.

“There’s a significant financial risk for search and rescue and the county if we didn’t have (Workers’ Compensation) and someone would get hurt,” Cox said.

The process was estimated to take up to a week, but was completed within a day.  

During the suspension, the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office was to respond to calls and a mutual aid agreement with other counties would have been acted upon if needed.

“….Sanders County has a mutual aid agreement with all the counties in the state and we will be able to call upon any of the surrounding counties should the need arise,” Rummel explained during the suspension.

During the short-term suspension, no search and rescue calls were reported to dispatch. All of the responsibilities of Sanders County Search and Rescue have been reinstated.