A horse is not a requirement to join the forces of the Verde Search and Rescue Posse.

The team is a foot posse of hikers who assist the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office when a person becomes lost or is missing in Sedona and the Verde Valley. It is an all-volunteer organization with 30 members from Sedona, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Rimrock and the surrounding communities. Only 19 are active hikers.

The posse helps YCSO conduct searches for people, as well as searching for evidence at crime scenes and accident sites, said Spence Gustav, a member of the posse.

“We go out when we’re called in numbers necessary for the search. Sometimes we all participate like in the Syler Newton search two years ago over at the Beaver Creek campground,” Gustav said.

For the full story, please see the Friday, Aug. 10, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.