The Madison County Sheriff’s Office has five members that have been trained and certified as instructors and operators of the search and rescue radio equipment in the event a client wanders and the Sheriff’s Office is alerted.  Training was provided by designated Project Lifesaver trainers with the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office.

In addition to members attending the training for equipment and instructor certification, they also received training in the methods necessary to communicate with a person inflicted with Alzheimer’s, Dementia or a related disorder.  Wanderer’s, when confronted, often will be disoriented, anxious and untrusting. The trained members of the Sheriff’s Office have been instructed on the most appropriate manner to approach the found wanderer, how to gain their trust and how to put them at ease for their return trip back home.   

The Sheriff’s Office has two Project Lifesaver receivers that have the capability of being used by hand during a foot search as well as from a patrol vehicle mounted antenna in the event a vehicle search of a wider area is required. One unit is located in the Morrisville Field Office and the other is located at the Sheriff’s Public Safety Building located in Wampsville.

Neighboring Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office has their aviation unit helicopter equipped with Project Lifesaver locating equipment capable of an aerial search support if needed. Neighboring Oneida County Sheriff’s Office also has the program.   

The highest priority is to make a quick and safe recovery of an enrolled wanderer in the shortest time possible. In addition, this program can reduce the time and cost of a traditional search from hours to minutes. Nationally, the average recovery of clients enrolled in this program is about 30 minutes.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is now accepting applications from interested caregivers or families of loved ones that they may want to enroll into this program. There are affordable costs and monthly battery fees that will be explained when an interested party inquires. The entire program is non-profit. www.projectlifesaver.org

If you would like to learn more about this program or make a donation, please call the Madison County Sheriff’s Office at (315) 366-2318 or click on the link below. A qualified Project Lifesaver member of the Sheriff’s Office will either be available to answer your call or will re-contact you if a return number is provided.

To request more information or to have a member of the Sheriff's Office contact you, please click here.