Desert Search Unit Maricopa County Sheriff's Office About DSU

Founded in 1975, the Maricopa County Sheriff's "Desert Search Unit", (DSU), has remained on-call to serve the citizens of Arizona through active participation in search and rescue operations and management statewide. These dedicated volunteer trackers are often the first in and last out during a search and rescue mission, The DSU brings over 350 years of search and rescue experience to an operation and are recognized as one of Arizona's top "Search And Rescue" (SAR) organizations. Members of DSU are required to maintain a high level of operational readiness with regular training and practice to insure the highest of pofessional standards. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Desert Search Unit is dedicated to service "That Others May Live".

The Art Of Tracking

The Word tracking in its narrowest definition means following the signs of track made by another individual. When we talk about tracking, we include:
1. Questioning of any witnesses or associates of the subject.
2. Development of strategy for initial deployment of tracking teams.
3. Searching for the subject's track.
4. Following the signs of track made by the subject.

Questioning witnesses is an extremely important element of any search operation. By patiently and thoroughly questioning witnesses you can significantly reduce the time of the search operation. In each case your goal is to reconstruct events as accurately as possible. In order to do so it will be necessary to change your approach to suit the situation and subject being questioned.

First, establish empathy with the witness. Give them a few minutes to wind down before beginning your interrogation. Be gentle and understanding, and listen attentively to what the witness is telling you, especially when questioning a child.

Second, separate the witness to be questioned. You may get entirely different answers from each witness. Remember we all can perceive the same situation differently.

Third, do not lead the witness by suggesting what he/she should say. Let them tell it their way. The manner in which you phrase your questions may influence the kind of answers you get.

Fourth, be alert to the total response of the witness. Listen to what they say but also be aware of the unspoken messages he/she may be sending.

Fifth, your questioning process may be broken into two parts: obtaining vital information that the trackers need to get started and then information about events and conditions leading up to their disappearance.

The Tracking Team

A Tracking Team will normally consist of three people, a Point man and two Flankers. The point man is the team leader and the one who will actually follow the tracks.

The Flankers whould position themselves on either side of the Point man one or two steps behind. The Flanker's job is to detect a sudden change in the subject's direction of travel. They should be careful not to advance beyond the Point man's position and the entire team should not advance beyond the last known track. The Flanker's also serve as navigators and maintain radio contact with the command post.

The Point man must be aware of becoming tired. When this occurs he should change positions with one of the Flanker's to reduce stress. Under some lighting conditions, Flanker's may be in a better position to locate signs of a track. In other situations, it may become necessary to deploy two-man tracking teams, In this case, one will act as a roving Flanker covering both flanking positions.

Signs Of Track

It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the many different types of terrain and signs to look for in each. For example, if you step on a small twig or branch, it will normally leave a visible depression in the ground directly underneath. When twigs are stepped on, they will usually break or at least crack. Compare twigs that you break to those you have found. An old break will appear dull and weatherworn; a fresh break will expose new material that will contrast sharply with the appearance of the older break.

A pebble that is stepped upon will become embedded in the ground. Look for a break in the contact between the pebble and the surrounding dirt that would indicate movement had occurred. Another excellent sign is a pebble that has been moved from its previous position. Once the pebble is moved, a crater becomes easily visible. If the pebble is a significant distance from the crater, it was probably kicked out. This gives you an indication of the direction of which the subject was traveling.

On hard ground, one of the best signs of track is in the change of reflective properties of the ground where someone has stepped. This will generally show up as a shiny patch of dirt. Scuffmarks are another sign trackers should look for on hard surfaces.

A freshly turned stone or leaf will generally appear different on color that surrounding stone or leaves. The bottom of a freshly turned stone may appear moist or darker when comapared to the part exposed to and bleached by the sun.

If you happen to be on the side of a stream where the person emerged after crossing, you should look for wet marks on the grouond. If the subject did get his/her boots wet while crossing, then it is highly probable that loose sand and dirt will readily cling to the boots once he/she steps on dry land.

The stream itself can also be a valuable source of information. First look at the banks. If there is soft dirt or vegetation, there is an excellent chance of finding a print, or at least a definite sign of passage. If you are able to see the bottom, then try to detect any sign - such as overturned rocks whose underside will normally be different in color than the side exposed to moving water. If the creek bed is soft, it will probably be easily imprinted by someone stepping in it.

Special Equipment For Tracking

The tracking stick is the basic tool of a tracker. This tool is a combination, walking, marking, and measuring stick. Using a walking stick is a proven fatigue fighter. There are some commercially available tracking sticks, however, it is not difficult to make your own. Start with a mop handle, broomstick, steel conduct, PVC pipe or anything strong and straight. A guide for determining the length of the stick should be such that your forearm is parallel to the ground when holding the stick, personal comfort is the goal. The stick must be graduated in inches. A helpful addition is to place rubber bands or O-rings around the stick for recording measurements for quick reference in the field. For added comfort add a wrist lanyard, which makes dragging the stick easier.

Flagging Tape

Surveyor's flagging tape is available at most hardware or lumber stores. It is available in several florescent colors. Use the flagging tape to mark a last known track, the location of a clue, or any place you may need to find again. If possible tie the tape toa tree at eye level to make it easier to see from a distance.

Polarized Sunglases

Polarized sunglasses can decrease the glare from the bright desert sun and give the tracker the ability to see a track which would have been difficult or impossible to see otherwise. Polarized sunglasses are also extremely useful in spotting tracks under water in small creeks. One disadvantage is that most polarized glasses use plastic lenses, which scratch easily.

Top Track Erasers:

Inexperienced Rescuers
4x4's
ATV's
Horses
Mountain bikes

Contact us:

Desert Search Unit
Maricopa County Sheriff's Possie
7819 West Dreyfus Dr.
Peoria, Arizona 85381

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