Search Teams

Our Search Teams

Baja California Task Force 3 (BC-TF3)

California Regional Task Force 7 (CA-RTF7) Ventura County

California Task Force 1 (CA-TF1) Los Angeles City

California Task Force 2 (CA-TF2) Los Angeles County

California Task Force 3 (CA-TF3) Bay Area

California Task Force 4 (CA-TF4) Oakland

California Task Force 5 (CA-TF5) Orange County

California Task Force 7 (CA-TF7) Sacramento

California Task Force 8 (CA-TF8) San Diego

Nebraska Task Force 1 (NE-TF1)

New York Task Force 2 (NY-TF2)

Oklahoma Task Force 1 (OK-TF1)

Texas Task Force 1 (TX-TF1)

Utah Task Force 1 (UT-TF1)

Virginia Task Force 1 (VA-TF1)

Virginia Task Force 2 (VA-TF2)

Ben & Eric Darling

Ben & Eric Darling

Team Info

Task Force: California Task Force 5 (CA-TF 5)
Level: DHS/FEMA Certified
Most Recent Certification: January 2, 2020

Search Dog Info

Breed: Black Lab
Sex: Male
Born: April 18, 2008
Donated by: Janet Eisen
Sponsors: Janet Van Huisen, Arc Aspicio
Guardians: Marina Jordan, Jane Devlin, Deborah Cornils, Ted Rose, Cheri Rosche

This Black Labrador began his career as a Field Trial dog, but it became clear early on that he was better suited for the field of Search and Rescue. At about 18 months of age, his owner, Janet Eisen, contacted SDF and let us know she had a potential candidate for us. Ben’s drive and athletic ability were noticed instantly by SDF trainers and his enthusiasm for the search game could nearly pull a handler off their feet as they approached a rubble pile.

It is Ben’s unbelievable amount of drive and his trainability that propelled him through formal training at Sundowners Kennel at record-breaking speed. Ben progressed so quickly that he graduated months ahead of schedule.

In June of 2010, Ben was partnered with firefighter Eric Darling of the Boeing Fire Department. Eric learned quickly that Ben is unstoppable when it comes to searching. “You can just see it in his eye… He’s a thinker with a lot of drive,” said Eric. As they began to prepare for their FEMA test, Eric recalled that “It’s going great! Actually being a handler and having Ben is everything I expected and then some.”

And their training together has paid off. After being paired barely one year earlier, Eric and Ben achieved FEMA certification on June 25, 2011 and were eligible to deploy to disasters as members of California Task Force 5 (CA-TF5) based in Orange County.

On CA-TF5, the team deployed to several missing person searches:

  • August 2011 – Casitas Pass, CA
  • September 2011 – San Luis Obispo, CA
  • February 2012 – Simi Valley, CA
  • April 2012 – Fillmore, CA
  • January 2013 – San Luis Obispo, CA
  • July 2013 – Riverside, CA

Then, on February 8, 2014, Eric and Ben achieved FEMA Re-Certification in Riverside, CA. Teams must be evaluated every three years in order to maintain their deployment-ready status on a task force. This ensures that the team is able to deploy at a moment’s notice when disaster strikes.

In the same month of their Re-Certification, Eric, his wife Tracy and Ben relocated to the Northeast, where Tracy took a new position at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center, and Eric and Ben joined Pennsylvania Task Force 1 (PA-TF1). Continuing to work within the FEMA system, Eric and Ben now assist on the East Coast as needed.

As members of PA-TF1, Ben and Eric have deployed to help locate several missing persons:

  • May 2014 – State College, PA
  • August 2014 – Ridley Park, PA
  • March 2015 – Delaware County, PA

Then on October 6, 2016, Hurricane Matthew, the first Category 5 Atlantic hurricane since 2007, struck Florida and moved up the coast, causing widespread destruction. Several U.S. task forces, including PA-TF1, deployed to aid civilians affected by flooding and structural damage in several states.

Eric and Ben were FEMA evaluated a third time on January 21, 2017, and continue to maintain their active status on PA-TF1. We rest easier knowing that Eric and Ben are experienced and ready to help anywhere in the nation at a moment’s notice.