Orillia OPP is looking into a GPS tracking system to help with missing-persons cases.
Insp. Veronica Eaton, Orillia OPP commander, said what prompted the project was the case of an Orillia man who wandered away from home and was found in Washago.
The local force is working with the OPP’s community safety section to develop a plan, though Eaton had little information about what it would look like, as it is still in the early stages.
The idea is worth pursuing, she said.
“It’s a great technology and it’s peace of mind for (families),” she said.
It would be particularly helpful for those with dementia, Eaton said, mentioning the case of Mandy Thompson.
The Barrie woman’s remains were found Feb. 28, more than a year after she went missing. The 72-year-old suffered from dementia.
“At least that family has some closure,” Eaton said, “but if we had that (GPS tracking) system in place, that could have helped.”
The program would be “family driven,” rather than something required by law, she said.
It would also save a lot of time and resources.
Police resources used in missing-persons cases are “off the charts,” Staff Sgt. Shawn Hewlett told the Orillia Police Services Board during its meeting Tuesday.
For example, in the case of Thompson, search crews were on the ground and in the air, scouring the area for weeks.
“If we’ve got GPS attached to somebody who’s a wanderer … it’s done,” he said.
Eaton doesn’t know when the program might be launched. While time is of the essence when someone is missing, she wants to ensure the best system is in place.
“I just want to be sure we pick the right program,” she said.
