Letter to John Armer Gila County Sheriff regarding Sgt Terry Hudgens


 

TONTO RIM SEARCH AND RESCUE SQUAD, INC.
P.O. Box 357
Strawberry, AZ 85544

                                                                    
Dear Sheriff Armer,

Sgt. Terry Hudgens has been with Tonto Rim Search and Rescue ever since I can remember. I've been a member since '99. I believe Terry has been with the Gila County Sheriffs office since '86. During that time he has become one of the leaders and most well respected and successful Search Coordinators in the State.

There have been many successful searches and a very few unsuccessful ones. The unsuccessful searches are the ones that play on one's mind the most. Searches involving individuals with Alzheimer's, dementia, autism and mental disorders are the most difficult and have been the source of the unsuccessful searches with which I have been involved. Sgt. Hudgens has found a program, Project Lifesaver, which when implemented, can change the outcome of these searches.

Project Lifesaver is a program that targets this group. It consists of transmitters worn by wandering individuals and directional receiving equipment to locate them. Law enforcement agencies where this has been implemented have had 100 percent success in less than 30 minutes time. The money and the man-hours spent on these searches have been drastically reduced.

Sgt. Hudgens has taken it upon himself to get Project Lifesaver implemented in Northern Gila County. There are an estimated 100 individuals in Northern Gila County alone that have been identified as potential candidates for this program. Not only will this program save lives, but also greatly relieve the stress of the caregivers.

The efforts of Sgt. Hudgens in procuring materials, equipment and training for Project Lifesaver have directly benefited the community, Tonto Rim Search and Rescue and the Sheriff's office. I know that modesty of Sgt. Hudgens would not require any special recognition for the work that he does, but too often individuals like Terry are taken for granted. Terry is the driving force for Tonto Rim Search and Rescue, and in the opinion of many of our members including myself, Sgt. Hudgens should receive special recognition to show appreciation for his dedication to saving lives in our community.

(Click for larger picture)
 

If Tonto Rim Search and Rescue can assist in making this happen, we'd be honored.

Sincerely,
 

Dave Pirtle Commander
Tonto Rim Search and Rescue Squad, Inc.