News Summary
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has launched the Care Track program, a tracker initiative designed to aid in the rapid location of missing vulnerable individuals, particularly those with cognitive disabilities like dementia. Utilizing radio frequency technology, the program has demonstrated a remarkable ability to reduce search times, improving outcomes for families facing these critical situations. With impressive recovery rates, the program offers peace of mind to families and emphasizes the importance of immediate reporting for missing persons.
Jacksonville families are gaining peace of mind with the innovative tracker program developed by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO), a critical tool for locating missing vulnerable individuals, particularly those prone to wandering, such as individuals suffering from dementia. The JSO Care Track program has emerged as a favorable solution, significantly reducing search times for loved ones at risk.
The program works by employing old-school radio frequency technology, which can effectively locate individuals within a two-mile radius. This advanced solution allows search teams to rescue missing persons quickly, often in as little as ten minutes. In stark contrast, searches without a tracker can take anywhere from 2 to 72 hours, highlighting the program’s efficiency during critical situations when every moment counts.
The success of the Care Track program is evidenced by the experiences of families like that of Mack Bronner, whose wife has dementia. She has wandered off multiple times, but each instance has ended positively thanks to the JSO’s quick response and reliable tracking capabilities. The program’s ability to facilitate timely recovery has brought significant relief for Bronner, allowing him to sleep better at night knowing that assistance is readily available if needed.
JSO’s Missing Persons Unit, led by Sergeant Michael Monts, points out that the longest recorded search involving a tracker has lasted just two hours. This rapid recovery rate significantly alleviates the emotional and physical stress on families dealing with the crisis of a missing loved one. For Bronner, the emotional turmoil of awakening to find a loved one missing has been mitigated due to the quick responses ensured by the tracker program. The program underscores the urgency required in such situations, reminding families that they need not wait before reporting a missing person.
The Care Track program is free for both adults and children with cognitive disabilities who are at risk of wandering. Families interested in enrolling their loved ones can sign up through the Duval R.E.V.A.M.P. registry, which not only helps maintain vital information for first responders but ensures faster response times when a registered individual goes missing. Additionally, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office supplies scent preservation kits to aid in tracking processes, allowing families to collect a person’s scent which could be beneficial during searches.
Dispelling a common myth, families are encouraged to report missing persons immediately, as waiting the standard 48 hours often believed necessary can hinder search efforts. In 2023, JSO’s Missing Persons Unit handled a significant number of cases, with a total of 3,388 cases and currently only one remaining unresolved case. This statistic reflects the unit’s efficiency and dedication to ensuring the safety of vulnerable residents in Jacksonville.
The implementation of the Care Track program by JSO represents an important step in safeguarding vulnerable individuals in the community and provides families with crucial support during stressful times. By maintaining readiness and utilizing technology for effective search, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is paving the way to enhance community safety and provide peace of mind for families with wandering loved ones.
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Additional Resources
- WOKV: Jacksonville Missing Persons Technology Saves Lives
- Wikipedia: Missing Person
- News4Jax: JSO Asks for Help to Find Jacksonville Teen
- Google Search: Jacksonville missing persons
- THV11: Hope to Find Missing Jacksonville Man
- Google Scholar: Missing persons technology
- First Coast News: What to Do When Someone Goes Missing
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Missing Person
- Action News Jax: JSO Tracker Program Helps Bring Missing Man Home
- Google News: Missing person tracking program
Author: STAFF HERE JACKSONVILLE WRITER
The JACKSONVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREJacksonville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Jacksonville, Duval County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Riverside Arts Market, and World of Nations Celebration. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and JAXUSA Partnership, plus leading businesses in logistics, healthcare, and entertainment that power the local economy such as CSX Corporation, Baptist Health, and VyStar Credit Union. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
