Anyone interested in becoming involved with civilian search and rescue can attend a public information session tomorrow. The Search and Rescue Saskatchewan Association of Volunteers (SARSAV) is looking to form a southeast Saskatchewan chapter.

“It includes a number of training elements in regards to how to search for people or evidence properly and of course look after yourself,” said Weyburn Police Chief Marlo Pritchard.

He said civilians can be equipped to assist police in finding missing persons as well as evidence.

“A missing person would be a perfect example of somebody that has Alzheimer's and has wandered off from a care facility, a perfect example of where the extra resources from a search and rescue chapter are extremely valuable for the police or emergency services," he explained. “They're trained on grid searches, so they can go to a scene and are used to look for evidence, so there's a number of different circumstances that they would be called on.”

The Chief emphasized that anyone interested should attend the public information session to learn more about volunteering.

“Even if you're mildly interested, come out, hear what we've got to say, we've got some individuals that are involved in search and rescue that are coming out to give the presentation, and then from there we'll ask individuals to sign up, and there'll be other steps after that, but it's an information session this week, so please come out,” said Pritchard.

The meeting will take place Thursday, January 24th at 7:00 p.m. in the City Works building classroom at #55 Sixteenth Street northeast.