The Menominee County Sheriff's Office oversees a number of volunteer units that provide critical services within our county. These units are community-funded, largely relying on donations, grants, and fundraisers for operation. Members of these units are volunteers with a variety of backgrounds and skillsets, who have a passion for serving their communities. All volunteers must complete a background check process before being accepted to a unit and sworn in as a Special Deputy.
BAMSAR
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Bay Area Mounted Search and Rescue (BAMSAR) are a group of local equestrians who provide vital ground search services for missing persons calls in both Michigan and Wisconsin. These volunteers - along with their highly-trained horses - are skilled in search and rescue techniques, incident command, and outdoor survival skills.
BAMSAR also facilitates Menominee County's Project Lifesaver program. BAMSAR members serve as the main point-of-contact for enrolled families, meeting with program participants regularly for equipment checks, maintenance, and program compliance. BAMSAR also ensures that volunteers and Sheriff's Deputies alike are trained in the use of the Project Lifesaver equipment.
PROPERTY INSPECTION UNIT
The Property Inspection Unit performs checks of vacant homes and seasonal properties, provides additional security at parades and community events, and assists law enforcement on large incidents and emergency scenes.
VICTIM SERVICES UNIT
The Victim Services Unit is a volunteer group that has been trained under the direction of the Michigan Sheriff’s Association to provide short-term crisis intervention services to victims, survivors, and their loved ones. VSU members respond to the emergency scene or directly to the residence of affected families to provide comfort, share resources, answer questions, and make referrals to other agencies.
VSU members also serve as a liaison between emergency responders and families affected by crime or crisis. This allows responding police, fire, and medical personnel to concentrate on their duties, while also providing critital support to families undergoing traumatic events.
Volunteers from the Victim Service Unit may be asked to respond to a variety of emergency incidents, including:
WATER RESCUE
Founded in 1983, our Water Rescue team provides rescue services on all bodies of water in Menominee County, including the Menominee River, Cedar River, Shakey Lakes, and 256 square miles of the bay of Green Bay.
The team is available 24 hours a day from April 15th through November 1st, and is activated by Menominee County 911.
BAMSAR also facilitates Menominee County's Project Lifesaver program. BAMSAR members serve as the main point-of-contact for enrolled families, meeting with program participants regularly for equipment checks, maintenance, and program compliance. BAMSAR also ensures that volunteers and Sheriff's Deputies alike are trained in the use of the Project Lifesaver equipment.
PROPERTY INSPECTION UNIT
The Property Inspection Unit performs checks of vacant homes and seasonal properties, provides additional security at parades and community events, and assists law enforcement on large incidents and emergency scenes.
VICTIM SERVICES UNIT
The Victim Services Unit is a volunteer group that has been trained under the direction of the Michigan Sheriff’s Association to provide short-term crisis intervention services to victims, survivors, and their loved ones. VSU members respond to the emergency scene or directly to the residence of affected families to provide comfort, share resources, answer questions, and make referrals to other agencies.
VSU members also serve as a liaison between emergency responders and families affected by crime or crisis. This allows responding police, fire, and medical personnel to concentrate on their duties, while also providing critital support to families undergoing traumatic events.
Volunteers from the Victim Service Unit may be asked to respond to a variety of emergency incidents, including:
- Accidental or intentional deaths
- Traffic accidents
- Missing persons / search and rescue scenes
- House fires
- Natural disasters
- Any other situation where emergency responders determine the services may be beneficial
WATER RESCUE
Founded in 1983, our Water Rescue team provides rescue services on all bodies of water in Menominee County, including the Menominee River, Cedar River, Shakey Lakes, and 256 square miles of the bay of Green Bay.
The team is available 24 hours a day from April 15th through November 1st, and is activated by Menominee County 911.