PEQUANNOCK TOWNSHIP, NJ (Morris County) – Morris County Sheriff’s Officers were able to locate a missing man Wednesday morning, thanks to the fact he was a “Project Lifesaver” client.
On July 20, at around 11:42 a.m., the Morris County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a missing Project Lifesaver client last seen in Mountainside Park in Pequannock Township, officials said.
The 21-yearold man from Butler was enjoying the park when he became separated from his caregiver, officials said.
The caregiver at some point lost sight of him near a parking area that leads to access points for additional trails. A search effort was organized and deployed by the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, officials said.
Officers from the Community Outreach and Planning Section, along with Canine Officers, Patrol Division Officers, and the Emergency Services Unit were assisted by Pequannock and Butler police officers in their attempt to locate the missing man.
The missing man was located at around 1:45 p.m. outside the boundaries of the park by Detective Marc Adamsky and Sheriff’s Officer Ashley Craig utilizing a Project LifeSaver receiver. He was determined to be in good health after being evaluated by EMS with concern due to the hot weather and was then reunited with his caregiver on
scene, officials said.
The Morris County Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver Program is free to Morris County residents and is used to help locate missing persons with dementia, Alzheimer’s, Down Syndrome, autism, or traumatic brain injuries. These clients are at risk of wandering and not able to communicate who they are or where they live.
Adults and juvenile participants of the program are equipped with a bracelet that contains a radio transmitter. The waterproof transmitter is about the size of a watch and emits frequencies unique to that client. Should the client go missing, the special tracker is used to pick up that specific frequency to find the client.
The program not only helps to keep the client safe but also shortens search time and provides peace of mind to the caregivers. The Morris County Sheriff’s Office average recovery time is thirteen minutes, officials said.
“Our officers did an excellent job today. I am extremely proud of all of them. The coordination of the search was efficient and effective along with a very timely response. This is an outstanding program that reassures the families and caregivers that all possible resources will be utilized to locate and return their loved one home safely. It assists the local municipalities with fast results and keeps the residents of Morris County safe in all seasons,” said Sheriff James M. Gannon.
Project Lifesaver is a national program that began in 1999. The Morris County Sheriff’s Office started its program for adults in 2003 and added children in 2005. Since then, it has taken off to become the second largest Project Lifesaver program in the State with 156 clients. The program’s officers are certified and trained on the equipment and attend Autism and Alzheimer’s training classes. Project Lifesaver is available in every county in New Jersey.
For more information on Morris County’s Project Lifesaver program, click here.
For more information on Warren County’s Project Lifesaver program, click here.
For more information on Sussex County’s Project Lifesaver program, click here.
For more information on Hunterdon County’s Project Lifesaver program, click here.
