Polk County Search and Rescue

10/13/2026

Today is the Day!! YUMM!

The Polk County Sheriff's Office SALT unit has partnered with the Original Roadhouse (481 Lancaster Dr NE, Salem) for a fundraiser next week. On Tuesday, October 13th, you can dine at the Original Roadhouse anytime during business hours to support SALT, just show them this digital flyer. The funds raised will allow the SALT unit to purchase things such as equipment or allow them to assist community members (for example, they adopt a family every year for the holidays and provide them with food items and gifts).

What is SALT?
SALT stands for Sheriff's Auxiliary Law enforcement Team. Members of this group are volunteers who help the Sheriff's Office perform a variety of tasks, such as court security scanning, fingerprinting CHL applicants, serving civil documents, and helping with community events. If this sounds like something you might be interested in, you can find our volunteer application here: https://www.polkcountyor.gov/893/Volunteer-Application (must be 18+ and able to pass a background check).

If you decide to support SALT by eating at the Original Roadhouse, tag our page and let us know what you ordered. Will it be a steak, burger, bbq chicken, or something like their wh***ey river salmon? 🍽

10/12/2026

Glow Run 2026…the PCSAR vehicle added a little ‘GLOW’ to the evening’s festivities. It was fast paced and fun. Thank you to the 9 PCSAR volunteers that helped keep folks safe. We appreciate the opportunity to support our community events.

10/06/2026

See you there!!

The Polk County Sheriff's Office SALT unit has partnered with the Original Roadhouse (481 Lancaster Dr NE, Salem) for a fundraiser next week. On Tuesday, October 13th, you can dine at the Original Roadhouse anytime during business hours to support SALT, just show them this digital flyer. The funds raised will allow the SALT unit to purchase things such as equipment or allow them to assist community members (for example, they adopt a family every year for the holidays and provide them with food items and gifts).

What is SALT?
SALT stands for Sheriff's Auxiliary Law enforcement Team. Members of this group are volunteers who help the Sheriff's Office perform a variety of tasks, such as court security scanning, fingerprinting CHL applicants, serving civil documents, and helping with community events. If this sounds like something you might be interested in, you can find our volunteer application here: https://www.polkcountyor.gov/893/Volunteer-Application (must be 18+ and able to pass a background check).

If you decide to support SALT by eating at the Original Roadhouse, tag our page and let us know what you ordered. Will it be a steak, burger, bbq chicken, or something like their wh***ey river salmon? 🍽

10/06/2026

🐾Always training…the PCSAR K9s and their handlers were off to a good start for scent and urban search training in the fall leaves. Sunday 10/4 at 0900 they were ‘away’ in Dallas Park followed by Urban Search in downtown Dallas. All K9’s that had completed obedience training were welcome to attend the ‘Blessing of the Animals’ later that day.
Thank you to the K9s, handlers, K9 Search Team, spotters and subjects that participated!
Great weather -Great Training Day. 🍁🍂😎🐾
(Photo credit to Richard Clark)

10/05/2026

Snake and all...the 2026 Fall Suver Road 'Adopt-A-Road' Clean Up Event was a success!!
Brian was the hero...grabbing insightly cans and garbage from a marshy, wet ditch area with a BIG snake. Don't know if it was friend or foe...it moved too quickly. All in all...the team gathered multiple bags of garbage & had great weather for this biannual event.
Thank you to all who participated:
Mark Cooperider (PCSAR Coordinator/Training Officer), Kayla Silverman (Vice-President PCSAR), Brian Land, Cindy Land, Bruce Sherzing, William Spencer, Stephan Wepprich & Holly Tangeman.
Until Spring of 2027.....

09/30/2026

Save the Date & Join Us for this IMPORTANT and FUN fundraising event at Forest Pass Brewing - Dallas OR!!

09/29/2026

09/29/2026

Polk County Search and Rescue will once again be assisting with the Dallas Glow Run this year and they need more volunteers! Please consider visiting the link and signing up to help.

https://sites.google.com/view/dallasglowrun/home?pli=1&authuser=0

09/25/2026

🧩 👣 🥾The September PCSAR team meeting featured a unique presentation by Dr. Misty Weitzel, PhD, Criminal Justice Sciences Division, Western Oregon University. Misty brings a high level of expertise as a Forensic Anthropologist trained to provide more detailed search, recovery & documentation of evidence to body deposition & search sites.
The SAR team learned valuable information about:
☑️Geographic Profiling
☑️Scene Identification - radius patterns for locating subject(s)
☑️Spatial Variables - subject activity & discreet areas from last known location
Environmental/Geographic Variables- vegetation, soil color/expansion/depressions, fauna & "What to Look For" on the ground surface. 🔎
Whether the search type is Hasty, Area, Grid or Evidence the team learned why consulting a Forensic Anthropologist in certain cases is essential to increasing the POD - probability of detection and protecting & preserving the evidence.
Thank you to Dr. Misty Weitzel for sharing her time & valuable expertise, to Ron G. our Lead PCSAR Mantracking Trainer for coordinating this training and to all who attended. 🙂

09/22/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1MndjnuPJe/?mibextid=wwXIfr

UPDATE: KIMBERLEE COUTURE WAS LOCATED SAFE
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Missing Person Alert: Kimberlee Couture

Deputies are seeking help locating Kimberlee Couture, 64, of Portland. Kimberlee was last seen around 7:30 a.m. on September 21, at Providence St. Vincent’s Hospital at 9205 SW Barnes Rd. Kimberlee is 5’5” tall and approximately 170 lbs., with blonde hair and brown eyes. She was seen wearing a black hoodie, black sweatpants, and white athletic shoes.

Kimberlee has a cognitive impairment that may make her seem lost or confused, and she needs daily medical care. Kimberlee does not have a cell phone with her.

If you have seen Kimberlee or have information on her whereabouts, please call 9-1-1.