Most of the members of BSARD have a decade or more experience training and working in Search And Rescue.
Our members come from all walks of life and a wide variety of professional experience. Currently we have people experienced in Law Enforcement, Fire and EMT Services, Nursing, Veterinary, Military, Management and Administration, Metalworking, and a variety of sciences including programming, engineering, and cryptography.
All BSARD members are required to pass a comprehensive criminal background check.
A Note on the Staff and K9 bios
By our own choice, BSARD members and teams do not self-certify. Our team members and K9/Handler teams certify (or are preparing to do so) through respected and accredited regional, national or international organizations. General information about certification can be found on our “Certification” page. Except where specifically noted, all current certifications are through the International Police Work Dog Association (IPWDA). Prior certifications may have been through other organizations.
Note that having a previous (but no longer current) certification should not be construed as an inability to perform the task described. Non-renewal of a certification can be for a variety of reasons that may have nothing to do with the testing itself. For example, the handler or K9 may have been sick or injured at the time the certification tests were taking place.
In addition to our own training, many team members attend seminars and workshops around the country. We also often bring in widely-respected and experienced resources for immersive workshops. This is to provide focused and fresh training from a different perspective.
For any questions about our training and/or certification processes, feel free to contact us via email at genmgr@buckeyesardogs.org. (Please do not use this email address for emergency requests, as it is not constantly monitored. Instead call the emergency telephone number at the top of the page.)
Current BSARD Staff
(In Alphabetical Order by First Name)
Member | Primary Role | SAR Since | Current K9 Partner(s) |
Amanda Gentry | Search Operations | 1998 | N/A |
Braeden Knapp | K9 Handler | 2017 | Dax |
Brian Rau | K9 Handler | 1998 | Lily |
Chad Cruset | Sonar Specialist | 2005 | N/A |
Darcy Vibbard | K9 Handler | 2008 | Dexter |
Dave Jones | Search Operations | 2008 | N/A |
Ed Napier | Search Operations | 1998 | N/A |
Gloria Napier | K9 Handler | 1998 | Finley, Pearl |
Jeanette Sinclair | K9 Handler | 2011 | Jolene, Remi |
Jeff Kingsley | K9 Handler | 2012 | Ruby, Cash |
Karen Stebelton | K9 Handler | 2013 | Griff, Nyx |
Kelly Hammonds | Search Operations | 2009 | N/A |
Liz Salyers | K9 Handler | 2008 | Dalton |
Scott Fleming | K9 Handler | 2005 | Zeke, Zelda |
Sheri Hammonds | K9 Handler | 2001 | Rip |
Teresa Voris | K9 Handler | 2009 | Percy, Sagan |
Theresa Jones | Search Operations | 2008 | N/A |
Toni Sander | Search Operations | 2007 | Höffen |
See also: BSARD Alumni.