This is my last opportunity to address you in this corner, so
stand still while I have my say.
Without any reservation, I can honestly say that TRSAR is the
finest group of people assembled anywhere.
I really appreciate each of you and what you contribute to
TRSAR. The time I have spent with you has been memorable and I
will always treasure the experience. Your support for me has
been terrific and I could not have performed my job if you had
not been doing yours. Any credit for the Squad’s success is due
to each of you.
I know that you will sincerely give that same support and
loyalty to my successor and to any subsequent Commanders as
well. I know it because that is the type of people you are.
Don’t change!
Thanks to each of you for sharing your life with TRSAR and
being my friend.
See you at the meeting.
Mike
On Oct 26, 2000 Paul Wayment of Coalville Utah, went out to
scout for deer, taking his 2 year-old son, Gage, along. He left
the child in his pickup for reportedly ½ hour. Upon return, the
child was missing. Local authorities organized a search and his
frozen body was found under a blanket of snow 6 days later by a
volunteer. The feet of his pajamas were worn through from
extensive walking, looking for his father.
Paul Wayment was subsequently found guilty of Negligent
Homicide and sentenced to 30 days in jail. The day, July 17,
2001, he was to be confined he went to where the boy had died
and shot himself.
His mother, the grandmother of Gage, has recently submitted a
multi-million dollar claim against those involved in the search,
alleging they were negligent for not finding the boy prior to
his death.
Regardless of the circumstances or the outcome of this case,
the reality here is that we and the county can be found at fault
even if we do nothing wrong. The courts have been known to award
large settlements to people who bring problems on themselves by
gross negligence, even criminal activities.
This does not mean we should not respond when the need
arises, it merely serves as a notice that we need to be well
trained and do our job professionally. Then we can stand proud
that we did all that we could and it was through no fault of
ours that the mission was not successful. We need to be diligent
in paperwork during and after the mission, documenting every
action and procedure. Many of our members have been lax about
the mission debrief form, not realizing just how important this
information may be at a later date. Even some of our leaders,
when they are Senior-Member-on-Site fail to do a Mission Report
and that leave us totally exposed to liability. These practices
must cease if we are to protect ourselves as well as the
subjects for whom we serve.
You will be asked by the Incident Commander to do reports
when on a Search. These need to be clear and concise, including
all relevant information and observations. The good old days of
verbal reports are long behind us. We are in the 21st
Century where all roads end at the courthouse.
There was a country music song in the 60’s entitled "Do What
You Do Do Well". That is very appropriate for SAR.
"Practice makes perfect" so we need to Train, Train and Train
again!
