SHALIMAR — The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has signed an agreement with Civil Air Patrol Eglin Composite Squadron FLWG 423, or CAP, stating the squadron will assist with aerial search and rescue missions. Member help is limited to passive assistance.
“CAP members may not be deputized nor take an active part in arrest or detention activities, and have no authority to restrict persons by means of force, active or implied,” the agreement states.
The squadron also will assist with relief, disaster assistance and environmental disaster damage assessment.
"CAP members are private citizens who have the skills and desire to serve the public,” Okaloosa Sheriff Larry Ashley said. “They could be a critical asset in helping us search for a missing individual, survey hurricane damage, or do a traffic assessment in a situation such as what took place with the recent Brooks Bridge shutdown.”
CAP, an official U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is a nonprofit organization with 61,000 members nationwide.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CAP members to provide search and rescue, other disaster assistance