Mounted Search & Rescue Team Approved In Sequoyah County

The Sequoyah County Sheriff and Emergency Management Director have given approval for a Mounted Search and Rescue team for the county.

Muldrow resident Granville Moad initiated the project and has a simple reason for starting a mounted search and rescue team.

“They don't have one. Somebody's got to do it," Moad said.

County officials tell KFSM, the CBS affiliate in Fort Smith, they agree with the idea.

"It'll make it a lot easier on horseback than walking through the woods and through the grass,” Emergency Manager Steve Rutherford said.

Moad has 13 horses on his ranch in Muldrow, but said he wants volunteers to train with their own horses if they want to be a part of the team.

Even though he received approval Tuesday, Moad has several volunteers in mind who will go through training, adding they may be armed at times, when the team and sheriff's office think it’s necessary.

Sequoyah County Sheriff Ron Lockhart said the county has not had a mounted search and rescue team in at least two decades.

Lockhart expects the team will be ready to operate this spring and when it does, Sequoyah County will join Oklahoma and Tulsa counties, who also have mounted search and rescue teams.