The search manager has jurisdictional and functional responsibility and assumes overall control of the search and rescue operation, working in tandem with an incident commander.
The role of a Search Manager is to direct the deployment of the local ground SAR group (and volunteers) and other police resources assigned to the search. Search Managers can be deployed to search for lost, missing or despondent persons, and are specially training in searching for evidence.
Search Managers are available on call-out and typically respond to 30-40 calls per year.