Manatee County Search and Rescue is a non-profit 501(c)(3) dedicated to assisting local law enforcement and other first responder agencies in the location of missing persons. The organization is a 100% volunteer staff comprised of either currently employed or retired from a First Responder or Military related field. The agency is funded 100% by donations from the community or from the members directly in order to remain in service to serve the citizens of Manatee County, as well as surrounding areas. Manatee County Search and Rescue was created in 1999 as an outlet for dedicated public safety professionals to continue to give back to their community while increasing their knowledge and networking. MCSAR began with only a few members from the public safety community who saw a void in the services offered in the county. It has now grown to approximately 30 members. In 2008 the organization was taken over by, now Chief, Jared Leggett and continues to be comprised of dedicated public safety professionals - all active or interested in all search and rescue disciplines, disaster aid, emergency medicine and awareness education. Manatee County Search and Rescue serves a total area of 893 square miles. 741 square miles of it is land and 152 square miles of it is water with a population of about 385,571 people.