Leum named county rescue chief

Member of Montrose Search and Rescue Team will oversee rescues throughout the county.

By Ben Godar
News-Press

January 2 2003

LOS ANGELES -- Mike Leum of the Montrose Search and Rescue Team has been named chief of mountain rescue for all of Los Angeles County, but he says he will still respond to calls for help on local hillsides.

Sheriff Lee Baca appointed Leum to the post, which oversees eight search-and-rescue teams across the county.

In the volunteer position, Leum will be responsible for coordinating training and equipment between the various teams and the Sheriff's Department. Representatives from the Sheriff's Department could not be reached for comment.

Leum had been serving as a commander of mountain rescue. Despite his new responsibilities as chief, he said he would still participate in rescues with the Montrose team.

"The reason I got into this is to be awakened by a pager at all hours of the night, and that will always be my emphasis," he said. "Somebody's got to steer the boat, and if the sheriff feels I'm the best person I'm glad to do it."

In addition to mountain rescues, the teams aid in swift-water and underground rescues. They are also training to be used in urban-rescue situations, something Leum said could prove valuable in the event of an earthquake or terrorist attack.

"We're looking to become even more of a valuable resource to the communities we serve," he said.

Alan Edwards, a member of the Montrose team, said he's glad to see someone from their team assume the countywide position.

"I think his dedication to the programs in the county and his ability to network with other agencies make him well-suited to the job," he said.