Rensselaer County Search and Rescue (RCSAR) is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Established in 1976, RCSAR has been finding missing adults and children across the northeast for decades.
RCSAR started with a local family, the Onderdonks, and a bloodhound named Boozer, who arrived in a whiskey box. The Onderdonks built a police auxiliary organization for the East Greenbush police and worked closely with them to find missing people. Since incorporating as a non profit in 1976, operations has expanded across New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, new Hampshire, and beyond.
They now maintain a base of operations, two response vehicles (a 1990s era Stepvan and a slightly newer recycled Ambulance) have two certified bloodhound handlers and access to cadaver, air scent, and a variety of other specialized search animals and resources. They are dispatched by the East Greenbush Police department.
RCSAR also provides educational outreach on Search and Rescue Techniques, high angle rescue, Wilderness survival preparedness, and more. These are provided at cost or free to any requesting organizations. In the past this has included fire and police departments, Scouting America, Girl Scouts, Sea Cadets, Civil Air Patrol, and many others.
RCSAR also participates in the annual NEWSAR conference in Vermont, teaching and learning the latest techniques in Search and Rescue.
We are 100% volunteer, 100% funded by the community, and would appreciate your support in our 50th year of operations.
For more information or to support Rensselaer County Search and Rescue visit their website.
Read more about Search and Rescue in New York State.
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