New Mexico Search and Rescue: Who Leads & How to Request

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New Mexico Search and Rescue

Who leads searches in New Mexico, how agencies request state help, and the resources behind them. Each item links to its source. Reviewed November 2026.

Emergency: call 911. State contact: SAR Resource Office (505) 690-8452 (hours not stated); emergencies go through 911. How a state request works ↓

Requesting state help in New Mexico

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety (State Police) is the state SAR control agency and coordinates all search and rescue incidents in the state under the Search and Rescue Act. A State Police mission initiator opens each incident and a certified field coordinator (volunteer incident commander) runs it.

State contactSAR Resource Office (505) 690-8452 (hours not stated); emergencies go through 911.
Requesting state resourcesCall 911 or the local New Mexico State Police district office. Any agency, including sheriffs and tribal or federal agencies, asks for a SAR response through the State Police district headquarters.

Want to write the request out before you call? Use the request builder. Official agencies: NM Department of Public Safety (SAR control agency) ↗ · NM DHSEM ↗.

Key numbers

Only figures with a published source.

33counties

U.S. Census Bureau boundaries.

U.S. Census Bureau ↗

18Discipline directories

BluePrintSAR resource pages for New Mexico (below).

How search and rescue is requested in New Mexico

Step 1Call 911 or the local New Mexico State Police district office. Any agency, including sheriffs and tribal or federal agencies, asks for a SAR response through the State Police district headquarters.
Step 2Local emergency entities must promptly notify the state SAR control agency (DPS) of a possible SAR need (§ 24-15A-8, from January 1, 2026).
Step 3The district notifies a State Police SAR mission initiator (or, if none is available, a field coordinator), who investigates and gets a state SAR incident number.
Step 4An area commander assigns a certified field coordinator as incident commander, who calls out SAR teams from the state roster.
Step 5Missing aircraft go through State Police District 1 headquarters in Santa Fe; military and Civil Air Patrol help comes through the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center under its agreement with DPS.

Law and authority

Search and Rescue Act, NMSA 1978 § 24-15A-1 et seq.

Makes the Department of Public Safety the state SAR control agency; defines mission initiators (trained State Police officers) and field coordinators (certified by the review board).

Read the source ↗

NMSA § 24-15A-4 and § 24-15A-5

Creates the State SAR Resource Officer in DPS, who keeps resource rosters, adopts by regulation a certification system for SAR persons, sets volunteer insurance requirements, coordinates training of mission initiators and field coordinators, and submits volunteers' personal property damage claims to Risk Management (§ 13-5-1).

Read the source ↗

NMSA § 24-15A-6

Creates the State Search and Rescue Review Board, which meets at least quarterly, reviews mission problems, reports to the attorney general on cases involving hospitalization or death, and certifies field coordinators.

Read the source ↗

SB 353 (2025), SAR emergency response protocols (NMSA § 24-15A-7 and § 24-15A-8, effective January 1, 2026)

Requires standardized SAR emergency criteria and requires local emergency entities to promptly notify the state SAR control agency of a possible SAR need; the state must notify jurisdictions when resources are activated.

Read the source ↗

Tort Claims Act, NMSA § 41-4-1 et seq.

Volunteers on an authorized mission are treated as temporary public employees, without pay, for Tort Claims Act coverage.

State plans and guidelines

Official plans, annexes and program documents for New Mexico.

New Mexico Search and Rescue Plan (SAR-08) ↗ — New Mexico State Police search and rescue plan under the state SAR program.
NMSAR policy SAR-02, SAR Field Coordinator ↗ — State Police policy on the role of the SAR field coordinator.

Resources by discipline

What each resource does, how it is requested in New Mexico, and the standards that apply.

Listed in BluePrintSAR directories for New Mexico

Loading counts…

Counts are directory category listings, not unique organizations, personnel or available assets. Informational canine placeholders are excluded. Organizations can appear in several categories; canine specialty subtotals can overlap.

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Aviation (NMSP / ANG)

Department of Public Safety is the state SAR control agency; NMSP, the Army Guard and Kirtland rescue crews fly hoist rescues.

How to request

In New Mexico, aircraft are requested by the agency running the search.

Standards and policy

New Mexico has no aircrew qualification rule, but 10.24.1 NMAC requires DPS-certified SAR field coordinators to complete a SAR management course and at least 40 hours of training, be approved by the SAR review board and the State Police chief, and complete at least 8 hours of maintenance training each year. The NMSP SAR plan requires the area commander and incident commander on air incidents to meet air SAR training standards set by the SAR resource officer. Aircrew qualifications are set by each agency, for example Albuquerque police procedures requiring an FAA-licensed pilot and an ASU-certified tactical flight officer.

New Mexico Aviation (NMSP / ANG) directory

Canine (K9)

State Police coordinate SAR under the Search and Rescue Act; volunteer dog teams deploy through State Police mission initiators

How to request

In New Mexico, call 911.

Standards and policy

The Search and Rescue Act directs the State SAR Resource Officer to adopt a certification system for SAR persons by regulation. The rule read (NMAC 10.24.1) sets voluntary certification for volunteers (at least 8 hours of field training, maintenance every 3 years) and field coordinators (40 hours, annual maintenance) but does not address dogs. Teams use their own or national standards.

New Mexico Canine (K9) directory

Cave & Mine Rescue

Volunteer specialists

Specialists for rescues in caves and mines, where rope work, tight passages and communications make ordinary rescue methods hard.

Who provides it in New Mexico

Cave rescuers serve on local rescue squads and cave rescue groups. The National Cave Rescue Commission (part of the National Speleological Society) trains them and tracks cave rescue resources and specialized equipment. New Mexico is in the NCRC Southwestern Region. Accidents at working mines fall under the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.

How to request

Call 911. The agency with jurisdiction requests cave rescuers and can reach the NCRC regional coordinator listed on the NCRC staff page. Report an accident at a working mine to MSHA at 1-800-746-1553.

Standards and policy

NCRC national cave rescue curriculum: Orientation to Cave Rescue, Level 1 Team Member and Level 2 Team Leader.

New Mexico Cave & Mine Rescue directory NCRC about ↗ NCRC regional coordinators ↗ MSHA emergency contact ↗

Cell Phone Forensics

Kelsey Smith Act law: none found. 4 agencies and resources listed. All checked against official sources.

How to request

In New Mexico, only the law enforcement agency running the search can ask a carrier for a phone's location.

Standards and policy

There is no single national certification for cell phone analysis in searches; agencies and labs set their own training requirements.

New Mexico Cell Phone Forensics directory

Coast Guard Auxiliary

Coast Guard district and 1 sector covering New Mexico, plus 9 stations, local and volunteer units. All checked against a cited source.

How to request

In New Mexico, call 911 or VHF-FM Channel 16 for a maritime emergency.

Standards and policy

Coast Guard and Auxiliary crews qualify under Coast Guard training programs; local marine units follow the standards their agency sets.

New Mexico Coast Guard Auxiliary directory

Communication

National SAR and interoperability channels from the NIFOG, plus 4 state, local and volunteer radio systems and groups. All checked against official sources.

How to request

In New Mexico, the agency running the search sets the radio plan.

Standards and policy

Communications unit leaders (COML) and technicians (COMT) train through CISA courses and state credentialing; volunteers hold FCC amateur licenses.

New Mexico Communication directory

Dive & Underwater

4 public safety and volunteer dive teams listed. All checked against a cited source.

How to request

In New Mexico, start with the agency running the search.

Standards and policy

Public safety dive teams commonly train to NFPA 1006 (technical rescue personnel qualifications), which covers dive rescue; each team’s sponsoring agency sets its own certification requirements.

New Mexico Dive & Underwater directory

Drone / UAS

No New Mexico statute specifically governs government drone use; FAA rules and agency policy apply. 5 agency and volunteer drone teams listed, each checked against a published source.

How to request

In New Mexico, drone teams are requested by the agency running the search.

Standards and policy

Part 107 pilots complete FAA recurrent training every 24 months; agency programs set their own proficiency standards.

New Mexico Drone / UAS directory

Sheriff / Law Enforcement

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety (State Police) is the state SAR control agency and coordinates all search and rescue incidents in the state under the Search and Rescue Act.

How to request

Call 911 or the local New Mexico State Police district office. Any agency, including sheriffs and tribal or federal agencies, asks for a SAR response through the State Police district headquarters.

Standards and policy

Yes: state SAR Field Certification, plus certified field coordinator (IC) levels

New Mexico Sheriff / Law Enforcement directory

Mantracking

Trackers who find and follow a missing person’s footprints and other sign on the ground.

Who provides it in New Mexico

Trackers are requested through the agency running the search. This page does not list specific New Mexico tracking teams.

How to request

The agency running the search requests trackers, usually alongside ground search teams; see who leads searches above.

Standards and policy

ASTM F2852, Standard Practice for Training a Land Search Tracker, sets minimum training for trackers supporting a land search. FEMA’s Land SAR Team typing (8-508-1173) references ASTM F2209 for land search team members.

New Mexico Mantracking directory ASTM F2852 (tracker training) ↗ FEMA Land SAR Team definition ↗

Marine & Boating Law Enforcement

State boating agency

Officers and boats on lakes, rivers and coastal waters who respond to boating emergencies and support water searches.

Who provides it in New Mexico

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators lists New Mexico EMNRD, State Parks Division as New Mexico’s boating law agency (boating safety, enforcement and registration).

How to request

Call 911 for a water emergency; the agency with jurisdiction requests marine units through dispatch.

Standards and policy

State boating laws. NASBLA promotes uniform state boating laws and their enforcement (U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Division).

New Mexico Marine / State Parks Patrol directory New Mexico EMNRD, State Parks Division ↗ NASBLA New Mexico boating contacts ↗ State boating laws (USCG Boating Safety) ↗

National Guard

Governor-activated

Military helicopters and personnel for hoist rescue, aerial search and ground support when civilian resources can’t do the job.

Who provides it in New Mexico

The New Mexico National Guard (Army and Air), activated in state status by the Governor.

How to request

The agency with jurisdiction requests it through NM DHSEM. NWCG’s helicopter extraction list directs 911 and dispatch centers to coordinate requests for military, Coast Guard and National Guard aircraft through the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) at 800-851-3051.

Standards and policy

State active duty under the Governor’s authority; Guard aircraft used for SAR are coordinated with the rescue coordination center.

New Mexico National Guard directory New Mexico National Guard (official) ↗ State Guard websites (National Guard Bureau) ↗ NM DHSEM ↗ Helicopter extraction source list (NWCG PMS 512) ↗

State Parks

State agency

The state park system, whose staff know park terrain and trails and support searches on park land.

Who provides it in New Mexico

New Mexico State Parks. The National Association of State Park Directors lists this as the official park-system website.

How to request

For an emergency in a park, call 911. Park staff support the agency with jurisdiction; see who leads searches at the top of this page.

Standards and policy

Park rules and staff authority are set by the state park agency; see its website.

New Mexico State Parks & Game & Fish directory New Mexico State Parks (official) ↗ State park directory (America’s State Parks) ↗

Swiftwater & Flood Rescue

Teams that search for and rescue people and animals in swiftwater and floods, from shore and by boat.

Who provides it in New Mexico

Swiftwater and flood rescue is requested through the agency with jurisdiction. This page does not list specific New Mexico swiftwater teams.

How to request

The agency with jurisdiction requests water rescue through 911 dispatch. In New Mexico, SAR teams are called out through the State Police: the district office notifies a SAR mission initiator, and the field coordinator requests teams from the state SAR roster. NM DHSEM supports larger disasters.

Standards and policy

FEMA’s NIMS resource typing defines a Swiftwater/Flood Search and Rescue Team (8-508-1020), which provides shore-based and boat-based water rescue, basic life support and animal rescue.

New Mexico Swiftwater directory FEMA Swiftwater/Flood SAR Team definition ↗ NM DHSEM ↗

Technical Mountain Rescue

MRA teams listed

Teams for steep, high-angle and alpine terrain that use rope systems to reach and evacuate people.

Who provides it in New Mexico

Mountain Rescue Association member teams based in New Mexico: Albuquerque Mountain Rescue Council; Atalaya Search & Rescue Team.

How to request

The agency with jurisdiction requests the team, usually through 911 dispatch; see who leads searches above. Help from outside the area is requested through NM DHSEM.

Standards and policy

FEMA’s NIMS resource typing defines a Mountain Search and Rescue Team (8-508-1171) for low mountain, mountain and alpine environments. The MRA lists member teams by region with their membership status.

New Mexico Technical Mountain Rescue directory MRA Rocky Mountain Region teams ↗ FEMA Mountain SAR Team definition ↗

USAR (FEMA / State Task Force)

No FEMA task force is based in New Mexico; federal teams come through FEMA.

How to request

In New Mexico, US&R teams are requested by the agency in charge of the incident, through the state emergency management agency when local resources run short.

Standards and policy

FEMA task forces train to FEMA and NFPA standards; state and regional teams follow the standards their sponsor sets.

New Mexico USAR (FEMA / State Task Force) directory

Federal lands (Forest Service and National Park Service)

Federal land manager

Federal land agencies whose staff support searches on national forests, grasslands and parks.

Who provides it in New Mexico

National forests and grasslands in New Mexico on the Forest Service’s list: Carson National Forest; Cibola National Forest; Coronado National Forest; Gila National Forest; Kiowa National Grassland; Lincoln National Forest; Santa Fe National Forest. The National Park Service lists 19 park sites in New Mexico.

How to request

Searches on national forest land are led by the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction (in most states, the county sheriff), with the Forest Service supporting under cooperative agreements. In a national park, call 911 or the park’s emergency line; the NPS will make reasonable efforts to search for lost persons, using its own staff or partner SAR organizations under formal agreements.

Standards and policy

NPS Management Policies 2006, §8.2.5.3: SAR runs under the Incident Command System and visitors are not charged for it.

New Mexico National Forests (USFS / BLM) directory NPS sites in New Mexico ↗ Forest Service units by state ↗ USDA testimony on sheriff SAR agreements ↗ NPS SAR policy excerpt ↗

UTV & ATV Units

Off-road vehicles, including UTVs, ATVs and e-bikes, that move searchers and equipment and carry out injured people over rough trails.

Who provides it in New Mexico

Off-road vehicle support is requested through the agency running the search. This page does not list specific New Mexico UTV or ATV units.

How to request

The agency running the search requests vehicle units; see who leads searches above.

Standards and policy

FEMA’s Land SAR Team typing (8-508-1173) includes ground vehicles for support, transportation and evacuation in land and wilderness searches.

New Mexico UTV & ATV / Desert Units directory FEMA Land SAR Team definition ↗

33-county directory

Each county and its sheriff’s office. Who leads a search varies by state; see the top of this page. For an emergency, call 911.

All 33 phone numbers verified (2026-10) against the agency’s own site, a government directory, or a sheriffs’ association or IACP directory; each “Verified” link shows the source. For an emergency, call 911.

Jurisdiction	Agency	Phone
Bernalillo County	Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office	(505) 468-7100 sheriff’s office line (2nd Judicial District Attorney law enforcement contacts) · Verified
Catron County	Catron County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 533-6222 sheriff’s line (NM Association of Counties member directory) · Verified
Chaves County	Chaves County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 624-7590 non-emergency (main 575-624-6500) · Verified
Cibola County	Cibola County Sheriff’s Office	(505) 287-9476 24-hour non-emergency dispatch (sheriff’s office 505-876-2040) · Verified
Colfax County	Colfax County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 445-5561 sheriff’s line (NM Association of Counties member directory) · Verified
Curry County	Curry County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 769-2335 sheriff’s office line for calls for assistance · Verified
De Baca County	De Baca County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 355-7433 sheriff’s line (NM Association of Counties member directory) · Verified
Doña Ana County	Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 526-0795 sheriff’s office line for questions (NM State Police alert, Jan 2024) · Verified
Eddy County	Eddy County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 887-7551 sheriff’s office main line (NM Association of Counties roster, 2024) · Verified
Grant County	Grant County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 574-0100 sheriff’s office main line · Verified
Guadalupe County	Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 472-3711 sheriff’s department line · Verified
Harding County	Harding County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 673-2231 sheriff’s office line (county website) · Verified
Hidalgo County	Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 542-3833 sheriff’s line (NM Association of Counties member directory) · Verified
Lea County	Lea County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 396-3611 sheriff’s department line (NM State Police alert, Feb 2023) · Verified
Lincoln County	Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 648-2341 sheriff’s office line (toll-free 800-687-2419) · Verified
Los Alamos County	Los Alamos Police Department (county police)	(505) 662-8222 police department line (NM State Police advisory, July 2022) · Verified
Luna County	Luna County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 546-2655 sheriff’s office line · Verified
McKinley County	McKinley County Sheriff’s Office	(505) 722-6473 sheriff’s office line for questions (NM State Police alert, Dec 2023) · Verified
Mora County	Mora County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 387-2222 sheriff’s office main line (NMSP/MCSO dispatch 505-425-6771) · Verified
Otero County	Otero County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 437-2210 sheriff’s office line for questions (NM State Police alert, Apr 2023) · Verified
Quay County	Quay County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 461-2720 sheriff’s office line · Verified
Rio Arriba County	Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 588-7271 Tierra Amarilla sheriff’s office (Española office 505-753-3329) · Verified
Roosevelt County	Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 356-4408 sheriff’s office line · Verified
San Juan County	San Juan County Sheriff’s Office	(505) 334-6107 sheriff’s office non-emergency line (county press release, 2020) · Verified
San Miguel County	San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office	(505) 425-7589 sheriff’s office line (also 505-425-8799) · Verified
Sandoval County	Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office	(505) 898-7585 non-emergency dispatch (main 505-867-7526) · Verified
Santa Fe County	Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office	(505) 986-2455 sheriff’s line (NM Association of Counties member directory) · Verified
Sierra County	Sierra County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 894-7111 Sierra County Regional Dispatch · Verified
Socorro County	Socorro County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 835-0941 main and non-emergency line (after 5 pm: NM State Police 575-835-0741, option 3) · Verified
Taos County	Taos County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 737-6480 sheriff’s office line (also 575-751-3809) · Verified
Torrance County	Torrance County Sheriff’s Office	(505) 544-4900 sheriff’s office main line · Verified
Union County	Union County Sheriff’s Office	(575) 374-2583 sheriff’s line (NM Association of Counties member directory) · Verified
Valencia County	Valencia County Sheriff’s Office	(505) 866-2400 sheriff’s office main line (county brochure, Apr 2026) · Verified

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New Mexico State SAR