TEXSAR Announces the Hiring of Missing Persons Unit Director, Patrick Turck.
Patrick is a retired homicide detective with 38 years of law-enforcement experience. He has worked investigations for two different central Texas law enforcement agencies, the state of Texas and as a civilian investigator for the US Army in Afghanistan.
Patrick has extensive experience in homicide investigations; and has been featured on the Discovery Channel for his work on a cold case homicide that resulted in five lengthy prison sentences. He was a member of the SWAT team at Killeen Police Department for 14 years where he served as an entry team member, explosive Breacher, and assistant team commander. “I have always been passionate about helping those without a voice. This is a one of a kind opportunity to apply my experience to helping the voiceless and bringing hope to families of the missing,” stated Turck.
His focus will be to grow the Missing Persons Unit (MPU) program. He will work with agencies to acquire cases, help with investigations, deploy TEXSAR resources when needed, act as a liaison in the field with agencies during certain operations, and attend public outreach events. His efforts, alongside Director of Field Operations, Jeff Conrad, and TEXSAR volunteers will provide answers to more families.
TEXSAR does not self-deploy and only works at the request of law enforcement and emergency responders. TEXSAR will manage the MPU in a similar fashion working directly with law enforcement agencies. TEXSAR aims to continue their reputation of professionalism and excellence as they embark on this journey.
About TEXSAR: Qualified, committed Texans volunteering to serve fellow Texans in times of disasters and tragedies…that’s TEXSAR. Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR) is composed of volunteers who are dedicated Texans Helping Texans with a spirit of “service above self” during times of emergency, loss, disaster, and pain. TEXSAR makes itself available as a resource to all 254 counties in the state when requested by local, state, or federal agencies. Entering the limelight during the Memorial Day Hill Country floods of 2015 when the organization was 12 years old, it has remained a highly visible and requested resource in search and rescue, including services such as K-9, tracking, aerial assets, fast water capabilities, all-terrain and high-water assets, and more. For example, in 2024, TEXSAR required the use of all TEXSAR resources in 126 deployments implemented by its dedicated members and numerous volunteers operating out of four divisions: North Texas, Gulf Coast, South Central and Central. More than 40,000 volunteer hours served Texans in 2024, with an estimated value of $1.8 million. The true value of their benefit to first responders, agencies and families is priceless
