Search and Rescue K-9 Albert joins the Sheriff’s Department

By SDCN Editor

San Diego, CA–A bloodhound has joined the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department’s Search and Rescue (SAR) unit.

Albert joined the Sheriff’s Department in January of 2022 as a 13-week-old puppy. After more than a year of training, he is now serving the communities as part of the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) K-9 Unit. His special mission is to find missing and at-risk people. He graduated from training at the end of March and received his badge from Sheriff Kelly Martinez. He was donated to the Sheriff’s Department by the Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association.

The bloodhound is named in memory of Sergeant Don Albert Parker. Don was a 25-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department and served as unit leader of SAR for nine years. He led the search for many high-profile cases that generated national and international attention. 

“We lost him to brain cancer in 2018, but he is always in our hearts. Albert is our way of honoring Don for his dedication and passion to Search and Rescue,” the Sheriff’s Department stated in a news release.

Albert and his handler SAR K-9 Unit Leader Pam Medhurst are members of the National Police Bloodhound Association. This group is composed solely of sworn members of law enforcement. They made an exception for Medhurst because of her 24 years of volunteer service and expertise in Search and Rescue. This makes Medhurst and Albert the only citizen volunteer members of the Bloodhound Association. They completed their certification during training and testing in Los Angeles in February of this year.

Albert is one of 18 dogs in the SAR K-9 Unit. Its members all undergo a five-month academy. Their dogs meet or exceed California guidelines for search and rescue dogs. Their handlers and K-9s recertify every two years.

The Sheriff’s Search and Rescue is an all-volunteer unit. Together, they perform wilderness and urban rescues and search for missing people. Teams are available 24 hours per day to respond to local, state, and federal agency requests. They also help the Sheriff’s Department with evacuations during wildfires, flash floods, and other natural disasters.

About 150 SAR volunteers make contributions to the Sheriff’s Department. These individuals donate their time, energy, and skills in support of the department’s mission to keep San Diego County communities safe.