Missing Chelmsford Woman With Dementia Found Using Tracking System

CHELMSFORD, MA — A missing Chelmsford senior citizen with dementia has been found thanks to Chelmsford police's SafetyNet program, the department said Tuesday.

The 80-year-old woman was reported missing from the Technology Drive area Thursday morning, after which officers learned that she and her family took part in the SafetyNet tracking program offered by the department, Chelmsford police said.

As officers throughout the area searched for the woman, two other officers with the Chelmsford Police Department deployed the tracking devices they are supplied with via the SafetyNet program, the department said.

After signals on the devices grew stronger near a condominium complex on Technology Drive before outside teams could even arrive on scene, the missing woman was found sitting in the back of a car in the condominium complex, Chelmsford police said.

She was evaluated at the scene and reunited with her family, according to Chelmsford police.

The Chelmsford Police Department said it began participating in the SafetyNet program over the summer and has nine officers trained in its use. The program is designed to help find missing people with cognitive impairments including autism, dementia and Alzheimer's.

Those who take part in the SafetyNet program, which is free to use, are equipped with a SafetyNet bracelet to wear on their wrist or ankle at all times, the department explained. The bracelet features a radio frequency transmitter that emits a continuous signal that helps pinpoint the user's location if they go missing.

When a person is reported missing to police, officers respond to the last known location of the person in a vehicle with an antenna that is able to track the bracelet's signal. Once officers arrive within a quarter of a mile of the missing person, they switch to a handheld tracking device, police said.

"SafetyNet's radio frequency technology has been found to be more effective than GPS, especially in difficult conditions like densely wooded areas, buildings, basements, and shallow water," according to Chelmsford police.

Residents who would like to participate in the program can contact Officer Matthew Fernald at mfernald@chelmsfordma.gov or call 978-256-2521 x301, or contact Officer Shawn Brady at sbrady@chelmsfordma.gov or call 978-256-2521 x275.