Napa County Sheriff Volunteer Search & Rescue

09/04/2026

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR FUNDRAISER!

We’re excited to announce our upcoming fundraiser, and I’d love your help spreading the word!

All of the event details are on the flyer below. Once you click on the ticket/payment link, you’ll find even more information about the event and how to purchase tickets.

Can’t make it but still want to support us? That’s wonderful too! There’s also a link to make a donation if you’re unable to attend.

Every ticket, donation, and share helps. Thank you so much for your support, and please feel free to share this post!

We hope to see you there!

09/03/2026

What happens to the rescuers when the search doesn’t have a happy ending?

We had an important conversation in our Search and Rescue meeting this week. It wasn’t about gear, navigation, or what to pack when that call comes in. We covered all of that too, especially with the number of call-outs we’ve had lately during the summer season.

But then we talked about something that doesn’t always get talked about enough: the mental side of Search and Rescue.

Sometimes a search has a good outcome. Sometimes it doesn’t.

Finding someone who is deceased is a reality of this work, and it can affect you in ways you may not expect. Even when you know you’re doing exactly what you were trained to do, that doesn’t mean you simply leave it behind when the search is over.

I’m especially grateful for the support we receive from the Napa County Sheriff’s Department. When a search has a difficult outcome, they bring in a mental health team to check in with our people and make sure everyone has the support they need. Having that resource available, and being able to sit together afterward and talk about what happened, is incredibly important.

It’s one of those things everyone may be thinking about, but nobody necessarily wants to be the first person to talk about.

But we need to!

Taking care of each other mentally is just as important as being physically prepared for a search. We train for the physical challenges, prepare our gear, learn our skills, and practice our procedures. We also need to acknowledge the emotional realities of this work.

You never know what you’re going to encounter when that call comes in.

And sometimes taking care of your team means simply asking, “How are you doing?”

That conversation matters.

09/01/2026

🐾 Happy National Law Enforcement K-9 Day! 🐾

Today we’re celebrating three very special members of our Search & Rescue family: Java, Tulla, and Wawona.

While this day traditionally recognizes K-9s serving in law enforcement, our Search & Rescue K-9s deserve some recognition too. These incredible dogs are tenacious, focused, and always ready to work, helping us search for and locate people when they need us most.

The training that goes into a Search & Rescue K-9 team is extensive. It takes countless hours of training, conditioning, and building the trust and communication between dog and handler that makes this work possible.

And the best part? They absolutely love what they do. 🐾
Thank you, Java, Tulla, and Wawona, for being such an important part of our team!

Jave - Shepard
Tulla - Yellow lab
Wawona - Black lab

09/01/2026

🐾 HAPPY NATIONAL POLICE K9 DAY! 🐾

Today, we’re celebrating our incredible four-legged partners who work alongside our deputies and Search and Rescue teams to help keep our community safe! 💙🐕‍🦺

Meet our amazing Patrol K9s:
🐾 Nova
🐾 Roscoe
🐾 Brick
🐾 Jett
And our dedicated Search and Rescue K9s:
🐾 Java
🐾 Augie
🐾 Tulla

From tracking and searching for missing people to supporting patrol operations and serving our community, these K9s bring dedication, skill, and plenty of personality to the Napa County Sheriff’s Office. Their work is made possible through the incredible partnerships they share with their handlers and the countless hours of training they put in together.

Today, we proudly recognize Nova, Roscoe, Brick, Jett, Java, Augie, and Tulla—and all of the handlers and volunteers who work alongside them. Thank you for your service and for always being ready to answer the call! 💙🐾

08/26/2026

Sometimes, the outcome of a search is not the one we hope for.

Recently, our SAR team joined the search for a young man near Auburn.

As search and rescue volunteers, we always hope that every mission ends with bringing someone home safely. But when that isn’t possible, finding them can still bring something incredibly important to their loved ones: answers, closure, and the ability to begin healing.

We are grateful to have been part of the effort to bring this young man home to his family. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.

This is why we do what we do.

A 24-year-old hiker from Roseville who went missing was found dead in the Auburn State Recreation Area on Tuesday, the Placer County Sheriff's Office said.

Ian Roberts was believed to have slipped and fallen down a steep embankment and there was no indication of foul play, the sheriff's office said.

Full story ⬇️

08/25/2026

Search & Rescue: The Environments We Work In 🐾

There’s a side of Search and Rescue we don’t talk about enough: the environments our teams work in.

Training and trekking through rugged terrain means brush, steep hillsides, thick vegetation, mud, heat, cold, and sometimes things that stick to you along the way.

And then there are our canines.

We don’t talk about them nearly enough.

They don’t care how rough the terrain is. They don’t care about the burrs covering their fur. They don’t stop to complain about the brush or wonder how far they have to go.

You say, “Let’s go.”

And they go.

They know they have a job to do.

These photos say more than I ever could. ❤️🐾

Our SAR canines are truly something special.

08/23/2026

Behind the Scenes

When people think of Search and Rescue, they often picture the callout: the search, the hike, the rescue, and the return home.

But there is so much more that happens behind the scenes.
Our volunteers spend countless hours planning and preparing for the moments when they are needed. Training. Maintaining and checking equipment. Planning fundraising events. Working on logistics. Practicing skills. Preparing vehicles and gear. Meeting, organizing, and continually learning.
None of that happens without volunteers who are willing to give their time, often while balancing jobs, families, and everyday life.

The hours spent preparing may never make it into a photo or social media post, but they are what allow our team to be ready when someone needs help.

Today, we want to recognize and thank all of our Napa SAR volunteers for the time, energy, dedication, and commitment you give to this team.

NapaSAR

08/05/2026

What a great night at National Night Out! Our Napa Search and Rescue team had an amazing time connecting with the community.

From team members taking turns in the dunk tank to kids climbing into our rescue vehicles and checking out our equipment, there were smiles everywhere. We loved meeting so many people, answering questions about what we do, and sharing what it’s like to be part of our team.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello and support your local first responders and volunteers. We had a blast and are already looking forward to doing it all again next year!