On Nov. 22, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in Glendale honored the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept.’s Montrose Search and Rescue team.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. has maintained a group of experts trained in emergency preparedness, response and rescue since 1946 in the Crescenta Valley Station area. Responding at a moment’s notice for undetermined periods of time, members of the Montrose Search and Rescue team (SAR) have searched, rescued and saved lives for decades. 

The Elks honored the all-volunteer team for its preparedness to search for people lost, trapped or in need of remote immediate medical intervention. Elks members, including Garry Ackerman and retired Crescenta Valley Station Captain David Silversparre, presented the team with a check for $1,000 on behalf of the entire Glendale Elks Lodge for the purchase of necessary rescue equipment for the team. Captain Silversparre had many accolades for the dedicated team, who had already responded to 137 callouts this year, and said he was “honored to be associated with them.”

Longtime SAR team members with a combined 65 years of volunteer membership to the team (Janet Henderson, Jason Johnson, and Cindy England) accepted the monetary support that was greatly appreciated and needed. 

While the team is always looking for volunteers, community donations can be sent to the Montrose Search and Rescue team at Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station, 4554 Briggs Ave., La Crescenta.