Pecos Valley Public Services recently made the decision to step away from the New Mexico Search & Rescue community. Given the rumors circulating, we felt it necessary to clarify the reasons behind our decision.

First and foremost, we hold immense respect for all SAR volunteers. It was an honor to work alongside you, and our decision to leave Search & Rescue was not made lightly. However, it was a step we felt was necessary, and I’d like to explain why.

When I initially joined as a SAR volunteer, I quickly realized I was physically unprepared. This became painfully clear during a mission in White Sands, where I struggled to keep up. Unfortunately, the team I was with didn’t prioritize physical training or testing, and it took that mission for me to understand that I wasn’t fit enough. My husband and I decided to change that. We began our own training regimen, changed our diet, took on desert hikes, and tackled mountain tours. Gradually, we built up the strength to cover more ground, first without a pack and then with one. We started to enjoy the process and, with this newfound strength, I began advocating for some form of training and the implementation of the required testing (see NM SAR SOP-01). However, my push for these changes may have been too forceful, and I was subsequently kicked from the team. The circumstances surrounding my departure were extremely dubious, leading two other capable members to also resign.

But we weren’t ready to give up.

Determined to continue our involvement in Search & Rescue, we established our own organization. We registered as a 501(c)(3) and personally invested in uniforms and equipment, working tirelessly to raise additional funds for more gear. We committed to weekly training, organized a mock search with other area teams, and pursued specialized education to obtain necessary licenses, including Wilderness First Responder, FAA Part 107 drone pilot, and Ham radio operator certifications. We responded to every call we received, though these somehow always came from teams far from our home base—places like Sunland Park, Belen, and Silver City, all over 200 miles away – no calls to help with searches closer to home. But we remained committed, ready to assist wherever we were needed, putting aside any personal animosities or politics.

In addition to our SAR efforts, we began offering local services, especially to support vulnerable communities in our area. I continued my medical education, earning both EMT and Advanced EMT diplomas. Pecos Valley Public Services became increasingly involved in providing local assistance, including first aid and basic life support during events and inclement weather.

Despite our focus on local services, Search & Rescue remained our primary mission. We made efforts to get our team members field certified and reached out to local Incident Commanders for assistance, but received no response, even after multiple attempts. We were planning to send our team to ESCAPE in Socorro to address this, but then things took a turn for the worse.

As we were preparing to evolve our organization into a licensed special-purpose EMS agency, complementing our Search & Rescue activities, we contacted the NM Department of Health and the local EMS board for medical oversight and guidance. Unfortunately, during a subsequent meeting, I was accused of providing potentially unlawful medical services, including carrying Narcan (Naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal drug) and oxygen. It was claimed that Search & Rescue missions do not have medical oversight, and several other accusations were made about my conduct.

Shortly thereafter, I was notified that I was under preliminary investigation by the State of New Mexico EMS Bureau. Additionally, the Search & Rescue Resource Officer suspended Pecos Valley Public Services as a search & rescue organization. Even more troubling, my husband and I were informed that we were not permitted to communicate with the Search & Rescue Resource Officer, effectively preventing us from defending ourselves against these accusations, despite having done nothing wrong.

I could have easily demonstrated that all of my actions—and those of Pecos Valley Public Services—were not unlawful. We also consistently operated within the guidelines prohibiting self-deployment as a SAR organization, and neither I nor our organization ever engaged in anything that would tarnish the reputation of Search & Rescue. However, I was never given the opportunity to present this evidence.

Despite all the work we’ve done over the years, the personal investments we’ve made into our organization, and the support we’ve provided for missions, the decision was made to suspend Pecos Valley Public Services without even hearing our side of the story.

We never complained about the politics that affected call-outs and training opportunities. We didn’t expect any recognition from the State of New Mexico for driving hours to missions, providing assistance, and then making the long drive back home. While we did find it strange that the State SAR environment offered no training, that no one ever visited us to see what we do, how they can assist, and that there was no guidance, support, or procedures for integrating new technologies like drones, we simply shrugged it off and kept moving forward.

However, the level of distrust directed at our organization and myself—a field-certified SAR responder, nationally registered EMT, and a director of our organization—became too much to bear. After all, we are volunteers. Yes, our organization and its members are ambitious. We’ve witnessed firsthand what happens when other teams lack the stamina or equipment to complete a mission successfully. We made a promise to ourselves that this would never happen to us.

And it won’t.

Pecos Valley Public Services dedicated 200 man-hours to supporting the Ruidoso fire evacuations, a contribution for which we received personal thanks from the Governor. We are actively on the streets, providing aid and comfort to the homeless and other vulnerable communities.

We offer stand-by first aid and BLS during events, monitor rural areas, BLM land in our vicinity and provide support when necessary, our rebranded online automated wilderness tracker is now regularly used by many and we continue to enhance our capabilities with equipment and training. We’re also planning to participate in the 2025 Bataan Memorial March as a team.

Regarding the state EMS board investigation against me: Since I did nothing wrong, it concluded without any action taken. We are now back on track with our plans to establish a small-scale, special-purpose EMS agency.

Deciding to step away from something we loved was incredibly difficult. We started as a Search & Rescue organization and worked tirelessly to become a tough and capable team. But without trust, without the benefit of the doubt, and without the opportunity to defend ourselves against accusations, we saw no viable path forward.

We remain strong believers in SAR and will continue to support any SAR organization when requested. We also believe in the unique structure of Search & Rescue in New Mexico. However, we suggest a critical review of current practices and discussions to implement the following changes:

• Update the SAR Field Guide to incorporate modern technologies like CalTopo (or digital maps in general), drone operations, and cell phone tracking.
• Base team activation on the mission region, not on the personal preferences of Incident Commanders.
• The State of New Mexico should provide more support by offering regional field certification sessions, advanced training, and regular visits by officers to ensure adherence to Standard Operating Procedures, including physical fitness requirements.

We recognize that our departure does not have a significant impact on SAR in New Mexico. There are excellent teams who carry the bulk of the mission load, and we hope they continue to do so. While we were just a small cog in the larger machine, the way our volunteer work was overlooked or taken for granted, coupled with the mistrust directed at us—especially at me—leaves a bitter taste.

We wish all SAR volunteers safe and successful missions. Thank you for your continued dedication, even when the going gets tough. We are grateful for the opportunity to have served alongside you.

Michaela Merz, NREMT
Director, Pecos Valley Public Services

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