[Montgomery, Ala.] The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Aviation Unit provided assistance in the successful rescue of a missing 71-year-old man overnight in Montgomery.
Although the man had been missing for several hours, the Aviation Unit on Wednesday, Aug. 19, was able to locate the man and guide ground units to his exact location by utilizing the Project Lifesaver system.
“Project Lifesaver is an invaluable program designed to aid in the rescue of individuals who wander because of autism, Down syndrome, Alzheimer’s, dementia or other cognitive conditions,” Secretary of Law Enforcement Spencer Collier said. “Because the elderly man was wearing a Project Lifesaver bracelet, rescue efforts were reduced from hours to mere minutes. Once in the area of the missing man, ALEA’s Aviation Unit guided ground units to the area and located him safely in less than 15 minutes.”
Since 2010, ALEA Aviation has responded to every county of the state, totaling 369 successful rescues and captures, 537 missing persons requests, 949 search requests and 1,240 emergency requests. Collier continued, “Proposed budget cuts of 22 to 47 percent will dramatically hinder -- if not halt -- our Aviation Unit’s lifesaving rescue efforts provided to the citizens of Alabama. We ask that citizens contact their Legislators and ask them to support Governor Bentley’s solution to the budget crisis and put our state on a strong path forward.”
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