20 V.S.A. § 1842: Commissioner of Public Safety; jurisdiction over search and rescue operations; coordination

(a) The Commissioner of Public Safety shall have jurisdiction over all search and rescue operations.

(b)(1) The Commissioner shall cooperate with and support all public safety agencies and any nonpublic entities that specialize in protecting the safety of the public in this State in matters relating to search and rescue operations. When necessary to protect a person missing in the backcountry, remote areas, or waters of the State from harm, the Commissioner shall coordinate local, county, State, and any nonpublic efforts to search for and rescue that person.

(2) The Commissioner shall specifically coordinate with game wardens in the Department of Fish and Wildlife as needed to search for and rescue a person missing or lost in the backcountry, remote areas, or waters of the State.