Some police services in Grey Bruce are taking part in a program that uses communication technology to help quickly locate missing persons.
Provincial Police describe Project Lifesaver as a proactive program for wandering persons that may not be able to get themselves home. Those who participate in the program wear a one-ounce, personalized wristband that emits a continuous radio frequency that can be tracked by a Project Lifesaver receiver.
This will allow first responders to quickly locate a wandering person who is in the program and get them back to their families.
South Bruce OPP has eight police officers that have been qualified as Project Lifesaver Search Specialists. Owen Sound Police received its equipment for the program last week as well. Other local police services in Grey Bruce are also looking into the initiative.
“Missing person investigations are a high priority for the OPP. When a missing person with dementia type disorders such as Alzheimer's or other cognitive abilities such as Autism goes missing, the greater the concern,” says South Bruce OPP Detachment Commander Inspector Krista Miller in a release. “Having the Project Lifesaver equipment and electronic search trained officers at the detachment gives us the ability to quickly reunite missing loved ones with their families.”
The program is being launched in partnership with Victim Services of Bruce-Grey-Perth.