Karen Karrer

Employed for over 22 years (before early retirement) as an engineer in the powertrain dept. for the Navistar Corp., Karen assisted as a company medic, fire brigade & HAZMAT team member.  In her volunteer professions Karen has served her community with the Saint Joseph Fire Department Inc. as an EMT-A, Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) Search and Rescue Technician (SAR Tech), National Association of Search and Rescue (NASAR Tech II) and K9 handler.  Karen is also a member of the Northeast Indiana American Red Cross Disaster Services Team and an ERIN’s House Grief Facilitator.   Karen has been a K9 handler for over 16 years working mantrailing bloodhounds & a HRD Australian cattle dog.  Since 1998 they have been deployed in the surrounding MI/IN/OH areas assisting FBI, DNR, state/city police, sheriff & fire dept/dive teams on missing person rescue & recovery incidents.  Karen also uses her SAR K9s promoting public safety & prevention education through the fire department’s BE SAFE (Burn Education Safety Awareness for Everyone) & Hug-A-Tree programs where she and the K9s demonstrate safety awareness & prevention practices.