Friends of Las Vegas Metro Search and Rescue

08/26/2026

Join us October 10th at the LVMPD Foundation Best of the Badge Gala where several of our SAR officers and pilots will be honored by receiving a unit commendation for a rescue operation earlier this year.

Here’s a little behind the scenes from when Sergeant Marlow and Officer Wicks were interviewed by our PIO section for the incident.

There will be jaw dropping stories of bravery as officers across our agency are honored for their acts as they receive our agencies highest commendations; the Medal of Valor, Medal of Honor or the Preservation of Life Awards.

It will be a special night as we get to share these stories with the public.

08/17/2026

Congratulations to Lieutenant Gordon as he moves on to the Wellness Bureau! He joined the Air Operations Bureau in January 2023 and has allowed the unit to flourish under his leadership.

Lieutenant Gordon has constantly allowed the members of Air Support, Search and Rescue and our Mechanics to find new ways to improve our sections while ensuring safety was the number one priority.

He has responded to rescues with the team to better his understanding of what his personnel must endure and participated in carry out operations through heinous terrain. Hes participated in team trainings including simulated ground operations as well.

Our team has so many amazing things to say about “300SR” but most importantly we want to say thank you sir and while we are sad to see you leave AOB, we can’t wait to see you excel in your new position!

08/12/2026

Rescue footage of the operation last night on Lone Mountain. While most people typically ask how our rescues occur on the urban mountain with a well defined trail, this is an example of how going off trail can be incredibly dangerous.

SR8 can be seen being inserted above our victim, rappeling down to them and then having to climb a steep ledge to make patient access. All while the victim is clinging on to the mountain to prevent themselves from falling.

While the footage does not show the extraction, we've highlighted many moments where the SAR Officer accesses, attaches the victim into our system for their safety and then prepares them for extraction via the Lezard.

Any time. Any place, day or night. We are always ready to save lives.

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08/11/2026

08/11/2026

On Monday, August 10th, 2026, around 730pm, SAR personnel aboard AIR1 conducted a rescue operation for a stuck climber on Lone Mountain.

The details advised a climber had become stuck attempting to free solo the Southern Face of the mountain. They were uninjured however were stuck in a compromised position and despite being able to call 911 they did not think they could hold the position for long without falling.

AIR1 immediately responded to the scene and inserted SR8 above the victim on the cliff band. An anchor was established and SR8 rappels down to the victim. They were secured in a victim harness and prepared for a lezard extraction. AIR1 returned to the scene and extracted both mid face on the wall via a double up lezard hoist.

The victim was transported to an improvised landing zone in the park near the equestrian trail parking area where they were transferred to ground personnel.

The victim was inexperienced and unprepared for their outdoor climbing attempt however did have indoor climbing experience. We occasionally see rescues with similar details. If you are inexperienced in outdoor climbing, seek a mentor or guide to safely help you learn those techniques. Do not climb alone and do not climb off route without the appropriate experience and training.

While we love people experiencing our outdoor wilderness areas, we do not want anyone to get hurt from preventable situations.

Thank you to our friends from Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Engine and Rescue 45 for helping wet down the offsite landing zone to prevent any brown out conditions. Also thank you to our partners from Clark County Office of Public Safety for their assistance along with American Medical Response

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08/08/2026

On Saturday, August 8th, 2026, SAR personnel conducted two rescue operations back to back.

AIR1 was requested originally around 12pm for a severely dehydrated victim in the area of First Creek who also sustained an ankle injury. Our partners from BLM and FD personnel from Clark County Fire Dept station 28 and Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Stations 44 hiked in to make patient contact. AIR1 responded and inserted a SAR officer who packaged the patient. Both were extracted via hoist. The victim was transported to the BLM Helipad where care was transferred to ground ambulance.

While conducting that operation, another rescue call began. personnel from Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Station 47 coordinated additional ground ambulance personnel to the helipad awaiting AIR1s response for the second operation.

The second operation occurred in Calico Basin where another subject was severely dehydrated and was unable to continue on their own. AIR1 responded and inserted a SAR officer who treated and packaged the subject. Both were extracted via hoist. The victim was also transported to the BLM helipad where care was transferred to ground ambulance.

On both of these incidents neither person was prepared with proper amounts of fluid for the extreme heat conditions.

Our recommendation is 1 liter or 33oz of water per person per hour with mild exertion. That means intaking that fluid as well as having snacks and electrolytes for your outing. Be sure to drink and stay ahead of the dehydration from exertion.

Always have more than you think you need and We urge caution to anyone recreating with the current conditions.

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08/03/2026

On Sunday, August 2nd, 2026, around 1pm, SAR personnel aboard AIR1 conducted a rescue operation on South Loop Trail near Mt Charleston Peak.

The victim was suffering from a medical emergency, exacerbated by the strenuous hike. AIR1 located the subject on the trail and inserted SR7 via hoist. SR7 evaluated the patient and prepared them for extraction. AIR1 returned to the scene and both were extracted via a double up hoist. The patient was transported to the USFS Helipad where care was transferred to ground ambulance and ground personnel.

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07/08/2026

Rest easy K9 Leico. Our deepest condolences to his handler Officer Carillo and the other handlers.

07/05/2026

On Saturday, July 4th, 2026, around 4pm, SAR personnel aboard AIR1 conducted a rescue operation near Turtlehead Peak in Red Rock.

Three hikers had gotten off trail and in an effort to find their own way back to the trail became ledged out. The subjects had been hiking since 6am and were out of water when they called 911.

BLM Rangers responded by ground. AIR4 searched and located the subjects near their provided GPS coordinates. AIR4 crew passed this information back to rescue personnel.

AIR1 responded to the scene and inserted SR2 and SR9 via hoist to the scene. All three of the victims were dehydrated and suffering from varying degrees of heat exhaustion.

All three were extracted via hoist, transported to the BLM helipad and transferred to ground ambulance.

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06/25/2026

Congratulations to Officer Wicks for completing his SAR training! He is the 37th officer in the history of LVMPD Search and Rescue to place his name on the board!

Each officer who joins the team must undergo a wide array of training in helicopter rescue, mountain and lead climb technical rescue techniques, tactical medicine, and diving skills.

As they progress through the training and show competency in each discipline they are required to under go five team lead FTX sign offs of our core rescue disciplines: rescue specialist, mountain rescue, TEMS, lead climb rescue, and dive search and recovery. They must pass each and everyone one to face removal from the team.

The training doesn’t stop there. Each officer also undergoes a multitude of other rescue training as a hoist operator, rescue swimmer, canyoneering tactics, off road motorcycle and UTV reaponse and alpine rescue techniques.

After successfully completing all of the individual skills and five FTXs, the officer earns the opportunity to place their name on the board. Only members who have completed the entire training pipeline may place their names up there.

While that immortalizes their place and time in the unit, they also earn their wings which they can wear on their uniform and are presented with a challenge coin bearing our team logo, the Jack of Hearts. Only officers who have completed the training program may wear their wings and earn the coin having proven they are a rescue jack of all trades.

Pictured are SR7, SR9, 300SR, 513SR, SR1, and SR6 celebrating Officer Wicks after completing his Dive FTX yesterday.

Congratulations brother!