MOULTRIE, Ga. (WALB) - A Georgia-based search and rescue organization is offering free services to smaller law enforcement agencies that may lack the specialized equipment or manpower to respond to missing persons cases.

Georgia Emergency Search & Rescue provides resources including K-9 units, drones and a scuba team to any agency that requests assistance.

‘A free resource’

Angel Alonso, CEO of Georgia Emergency Search & Rescue, said smaller departments often need outside support when someone goes missing.

“It’s important — people go missing all the time. Kids go missing, and law enforcement need our help and do what sometimes they can’t do because of small departments. It’s great to be able to have a free resource, and that’s the main thing. We are a free resource,” Alonso said.

Alonso said the organization’s role is to support agencies, not take over a scene. He said the reward for his team comes from the outcome of their work.

“There’s where our payment is. A lot of people have asked me, why do you do this without a paycheck? There is nothing better than to reunite a family with a missing loved one,” Alonso said.

Expanding across Georgia

According to Alonso, the organization originally served only Gwinnett County before expanding into two teams to cover all of Georgia. The group is currently traveling through south Georgia and plans to visit Thomas County.

Moultrie Police Chief Chad Castleberry said his department plans to use the services if the need arises.

“Should something happen and— that we need them? Yes. I mean, of course the hope is we don’t have anything. But when the need arises, it’s good to know that we have resources like that at our disposal, along with other resources that we have. And it’s just a great resource with drones and dogs, and it’s free to the community and free to us,” Castleberry said.

Agencies or individuals seeking to contact Georgia Emergency Search & Rescue go to georgiaemergencysearchandrescue.org.

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