The two-day search to find missing Alcona man Ken Armstrong last month cost police $16,000.
The search for more than a year for Barrie woman Mandy Thompson, whose remains were found in March, cost $250,000.
Citing these numbers, Kris Hughston of Project Lifesaver Simcoe said she hopes instances like these can be avoided in future with the help of a program aimed at people with a tendency to wander.
The Bradford West Gwillimbury/Innisfil Police Services Board endorsed Project Lifesaver on Monday and encouraged South Simcoe Police Chief Andrew Fletcher to pursue its adoption in the area.
“We’re super excited with the prospect of it coming to Bradford and Innisfil,” said Hughston.
“We are trying to let our seniors live in their homes longer. Or (Project Lifesaver could be used by) a single mom living with a child with autism. It doesn’t matter if you’re two or 102, this is adaptable to any age.”
Project Lifesaver, which was adopted by Barrie Police Service last month, is a program where people with a tendency to wander wear watch-sized wristbands that can be tracked using an FM frequency— meaning it works even if a person is in a building, tunnel or deep in the woods.
The transmitter, bracelets and batteries cost $500 for one year. After that, it costs $120 a year.
In Barrie, all participants are added to the police service’s vulnerable persons registry.
A year’s supply includes six bracelets and six batteries, which are swapped out every 60 days by volunteers from Georgian Bay Search and Rescue.
It costs $4,000 for two receivers, which police would operate, to pick up the bracelets’ frequencies, said Hughston.
In the big picture, these costs are worth being able to cut down on search time and find a missing person, she said.
“I think my last phone was $700, and I’m pretty sure gaming systems are $1,000,” she said.
BWG Mayor Rob Keffer and Innisfil Mayor Gord Wauchope, who are members of the local police board, each said they are committed to funding a receiver.
Several police services around North America use Project Lifesaver. Since beginning in Simcoe County, Hughston said she has been contacted by Durham and Collingwood police about potentially expanding there.
“(Barrie police have) adopted it. Now it’s trickling down to Innisfil. We’re very keen on it,” said South Simcoe Police Deputy Chief Robin McElary-Downer.
“It’s something proven, tested that works,” added Fletcher.
He said adding local participants to South Simcoe Police’s vulnerable persons registry is also a possibility.
“We cannot rely on it 100 per cent, (but) it is a tool in the toolbox,” said Fletcher, adding he would love to see the province create a Project Lifesaver program so municipalities can easily share frequency data if someone goes missing in another community.
“There’s a far-reaching benefit to this if we can get on this provincially.”
For register for Project Lifesaver, email [email protected] or call 249-888-0249 to book an appointment.
