The Greater Sudbury Police Service recently conducted a mock search in the event that an Extendicare York resident with Alzheimer’s went missing from the facility.
The search was conducted in conjunction with the OPP and the Sudbury and Manitoulin Dementia Network using helicopters, a mobile command centre and a lot of footwork.
The mock search also gave police the opportunity to test a newly developed search and rescue manual.
“Our population is aging and therefore we have to have some sort of process in place to deal with people that will go wandering aimlessly because that's unfortunately one of the symptoms or signs of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia,” said Staff Sgt. Terry Rumford. “I learned that we do have a response that's proper within our city and one capable of certainly dealing with those types of issues.”
The next mock search scenario will take place in May at Pioneer Manor on Notre Dame Ave.
“I think in the future we will continue to do them,” said Rumford. “I think it keeps are skills honed and allows us to provide a very contemporary approach to dealing with missing individuals.”
At a news conference held after the mock search had been completed, police officers stated what they had learned through conducting the exercise.
