Sadly I have not participated in the searches so I do not know how they are run. The FB page has repeatedly stated that they try to send people out in groups of ten. They have also said that money raised went to paying for expenses like off-duty cops, so maybe they play a part in the searches? Dunno.
My main issue with the searches is that it's my understanding that they were not asking for ID until after ES showed up. I had the same thought about a perp showing up just for the classic "I get to help with the investigation!" thing that some seem to like to do, and/or to mislead searchers, destroy evidence, etc. But again this might not be accurate.
cluciano63, it is also my understanding that the search effort has been keeping a pretty meticulous, gridded-out map of areas that have been searched, on what date, and by whom. I remember them being posted and discussed on FB in the initial first days but that was quickly quashed.