The Arizona Search and Rescue Coordinators presented awards to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue coordinator and the Verde Search and Rescue team at a conference in Heber on April 16.

The group, on behalf of the Arizona Division of Emergency Management, honored YCSO Deputy Roial Armstrong as Coordinator of the Year and the Verde Search and Rescue as Unit of the Year, said Dwight D'Evelyn, spokesman for the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.

Yavapai County Sheriff Steve Waugh said he is very proud of the accomplishments of Deputy Armstrong and the Verde SAR Unit, D'Evelyn said.

Deputy Armstrong coordinates many search missions, provides ongoing instruction and training to YCSO search and rescue members, and is considered an expert in the search and rescue field, D'Evelyn said.

The Verde Search and Rescue Unit works on most of the searches in the Verde basin area of Yavapai County, and these volunteers, along with the members of other YCSO rescue units, save many lives each year, D'Evelyn said.