Cochise County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue

06/18/2026

06/14/2026

On 06/14/26, the CCSO SAR K9 Team conducted a very early morning training session in the Fairbank area to take advantage of cooler temperatures.

The day began with a 12-hour-old trailing problem for Hades. The objective was to determine the correct direction of travel, negotiate a road crossing, and work through several contaminated areas. For his first truly aged trail, Hades performed very well and showed good determination throughout the problem. As always with aged trails, patience is key. Thank you to Selby for laying the trail and to Audrey for setting up the training problem.

While Hades was working, AJ laid an aged trail for Pippi. Thank you for your patience in waiting for us to complete the first trail before running Pippi’s problem. These aged trails continue to build confidence and develop the skills necessary for operational deployments.

Adam and Laci worked with Bill and the young K9 Quinn on runaway exercises and a small area search. Quinn continues to learn the game and is showing steady progress with each training session.

Oliver worked a two-subject area search and successfully located both Rick and Adam. Multiple-subject problems help develop independence, search intensity, and the ability to continue searching after an initial find.

Ruby and Alto were challenged with several difficult HRD problems that required them to work hard to locate source odor. These types of exercises remind us how important it is to watch and learn from our dogs. Careful observation of their behavior not only helps us recognize changes in odor conditions but also identifies future training objectives for both handlers and K9s.

Every training day provides valuable lessons. Watching and observing our dogs teaches us a great deal about their strengths, areas for improvement, and how we can become better handlers.

06/13/2026

⛈️ Monsoon season is almost here! ⛈️

A big thank you to Yavapai County Emergency Management for helping keep our community informed and prepared as we head into Arizona’s monsoon season.

Monsoon storms can develop quickly and bring heavy rain, lightning, strong winds, and flash flooding. Now is the time to review your emergency plans, prepare an emergency kit, and stay aware of changing weather conditions.

For preparedness resources and sandbag information, visit:
🌐 www.yavapaiready.gov

⛈️🌧️⚡🚒

06/13/2026

Rattlesnake season has already started, and outdoor enthusiasts should expect to encounter more rattlesnakes on trails throughout Santa Barbara County as temperatures continue to rise.

Before your next hike, trail run, or mountain bike ride, take a moment to review these safety tips. Knowing how to avoid an encounter and what to do if you or someone else is bitten can make a significant difference in an emergency.

Our local trails are a great place to explore, and rattlesnakes are a natural part of that environment. Staying alert, giving wildlife space, and being prepared helps keep everyone safe.

Save this post for your next outdoor adventure and share it with your hiking partners.

Stay prepared. Stay aware. Hike safe.

06/12/2026

Incoming with the subject

06/12/2026

Heading to the rescue location

06/12/2026

The rescue missions are not ending.

On 6/11/26, CCSO SAR was activated for the rescue of a stranded and dehydrated subject in the Miller area. The subject called 911 and reported that he could not move from his location due to a cliff face. He also stated he was not feeling well and had no water.

Due to the location and terrain, AZ DPS Air Rescue Ranger 2 was contacted and assisted with the rescue. Because a hoist rescue is never guaranteed, a three-person hasty team with technical rope rescue skills was deployed toward the subject’s location. Additional SAR team members were staged to follow with rescue gear and a Stokes basket.

Ranger 2 conducted a reconnaissance flight and located the subject. The helicopter then flew to the landing zone to offload gear before beginning the rescue operation.

The subject was evaluated by SAR medical personnel and Fry Fire. Transport to the hospital was not required, and the subject was turned over to U.S. Border Patrol, who also assisted with the mission.

Great coordination and teamwork by all involved.

06/11/2026

On 6/10/26, CCSO SAR members conducted a double training day with supplemental K9 training in the early morning and supplemental technical rescue training in the evening at Carr Canyon near the bridge.

During the K9 training, trailing teams continued working on direction of travel (DOT) determination with a turn incorporated into the trail. Advances area search dogs completed a larger search area containing two subjects, successfully providing their trained final responses (TFRs) upon locating the subjects.

K9 Quinn and Handler Bill continued their runaway training progression with a small search problem up a hillside. Quinn is continuing to develop nicely, showing increased confidence, enthusiasm, and understanding of the search game while working independently to locate the subject.

The evening technical rescue training focused on individual rope skills. Team members practiced ascending and rappelling on a cliff face, reinforcing the fundamental skills necessary for safe and efficient technical rescue operations. These foundational skills are critical to maintaining operational readiness in the challenging terrain commonly encountered throughout Cochise County.

It was a productive training day, with all objectives successfully met. Continuous training and repetition of fundamental skills ensure our K9 teams and technical rescue personnel remain prepared to respond when called upon to assist those in need.

06/08/2026

On 06/07/2026 at approximately 1615 hours, CCSO Search and Rescue was contacted by SEACOM regarding two hikers reported lost in the Huachuca Mountains. Family members advised that the subjects had last made contact around 1500 hours, stating they believed they were lost.

The reporting party advised her husband and a friend had departed the previous morning to hike from Montezuma Pass to Parker Canyon Lake. Two vehicles had been staged, one at Montezuma Pass and one at Parker Canyon Lake. At approximately 1000 hours, the reporting party received a location update from her husband indicating they had roughly five hours remaining before reaching the parking area. Around 1500 hours, she received another call advising they believed they were lost, had limited battery life remaining, and that one of the subjects may have sustained a knee injury, slowing their progress.

The reporting party provided a screenshot of the subjects’ last known location. SAR personnel converted the information into SARTopo, placing the subjects just east of Pat Scott Peak. “Find Me” links were subsequently sent to both subjects’ cellular phones in an attempt to obtain updated location information.

CCSO SAR personnel and Arizona Department of Public Safety Ranger 2 were activated and began responding toward the Montezuma Canyon Road and Sunnyside Canyon area. While responding through Montezuma Pass, SAR personnel located both subjects at their vehicle in the Montezuma Pass parking lot. The subjects advised they were uninjured, safe, and did not require assistance.

With the subjects accounted for and no medical or rescue needs identified, CCSO SAR personnel and AZDPS Ranger 2 were cancelled and returned to service.

06/07/2026

6.7.2026.
The CCSO SAR K9 Team conducted training in the Charleston Road/Bridge area, focusing on several discipline-specific objectives. Our HRD teams were introduced to a new odor source, allowing both handlers and K9s to work through odor recognition and source commitment in varying environmental conditions.

Our trailing teams concentrated on increased trail age and distance, challenging both the dogs and handlers to work through more complex scent pictures while maintaining confidence in direction of travel and turns. Our area search dog in training completed multiple repetitions designed to build consistency, confidence, and understanding of the search game.

To help mitigate the extreme summer temperatures, the training day began very early in the morning. Despite the early start, temperatures had already climbed to approximately 90 degrees by the time training concluded. The warm conditions provided an additional opportunity for handlers to monitor K9 performance, hydration, and endurance while continuing to build operational readiness.

Training in realistic environmental conditions remains essential to maintaining reliable and effective search teams capable of responding when called upon. Great work by all handlers, K9s, trail setters, and support personnel who helped make the day a success.