Our Team
Northern Search and Rescue is intentionally built differently than many traditional SAR organizations. Rather than maintaining a large membership, extensive infrastructure, or a one-size-fits-all response model, we focus on assembling the right people and resources for each unique search. While our core team consists of certified and experienced K9 handlers, we work closely with a network of skilled volunteers and specialists who share our commitment to helping locate missing persons. This flexible approach allows us to bring together the expertise, equipment, and support needed for each mission while keeping our organization agile, efficient, and mission-focused.
It required 12 days in the remote desert of Utah for a dedicated team of Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers to locate our missing family member. The eventual recovery of my stepson Michael’s remains and his return to his mother, sister, and father provided a lifetime of comfort that has endured beyond the grief. That comfort comes from knowing what happened, where it happened, and why.
That experience set my life on an entirely new path. I wanted to dedicate the rest of my life to helping find missing people. I began training and searching with a local SAR team almost immediately and have remained deeply committed ever since. Over the last six years, that journey has expanded my skills and earned me certifications in navigation, man-tracking, wilderness first aid, lost person search theory, and K9 search work.
Two years ago, I met my search partner, K9 Rip, a Fox Red Labrador from Ireland whose genetics were selected for impulse control, resilience, and persistence. At just seven weeks old, Rip began a step-by-step training process designed to acclimate him to the wide variety of conditions required of a working SAR dog. We bonded quickly. Today, Rip has earned the national certifications required to operate across multiple disciplines, allowing us to work to the professional standard expected by law enforcement and the search and rescue community.
K9 Handler | Search and Rescue Volunteer | Human Remains Detection and Area Search Specialist
Since 2020, Jeff has been actively involved in search and rescue, training and deploying certified K9s in support of law enforcement agencies and search operations throughout northern Wisconsin. His work has included both Human Remains Detection (HRD) and Area Search missions, helping provide critical resources during training exercises and real-world searches.
Jeff currently works alongside his certified K9 partner, Jack, building on years of experience with his previous search dog, Scout, and a commitment to continuous learning. He regularly trains with search and rescue professionals from across the country and maintains certifications in multiple search disciplines. His areas of expertise include K9 search operations, scent theory, navigation, wilderness search techniques, search strategy, and incident command systems.
Driven by a passion for helping families find answers, Jeff remains dedicated to providing professional, reliable search resources in support of the search and rescue community.