Retiring Search and Rescue volunteers honored

Courtesy of Madera County Sheriff’s Office

From left, Madera County Sheriff Jay Varney, Ron Vargus, Michael and Brenda Perreira, and Cmdr. Tyson Pogue.

---

Sheriff Jay Varney recently honored three retiring Madera Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers for their years of service. According to Varney, the trio demonstrated and embodied the Search and Rescue motto, “So others may live.”

Brenda and Mike Perreira are a husband and wife team who ran the basic SAR Academy for many years. On top of the basic academy, both were highly committed to the Sheriff’s Operation Lost and Found (OLF) program. OLF helps reunite people suffering from medical illness that affects their memory with loved ones when they wander from home. The Perreiras were with the team for about 13 years.

Ron Vargus has been part of the SAR team for about 10 years and lent his talents to many specialty teams, such as the SAR Overhead Management team and Mounted Horse team. Ron also committed much time every other year with the SAR Academy.

The trio also received commendations from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Service, Law Enforcement Branch, for their service signed by Chief Mark Pazin and Deputy Chief Matthew Scharper, the state Search and Rescue coordinator.