The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office is working to expand public safety technology across county lines to help protect vulnerable residents who are prone to wandering.
Lt. Floyd with the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office recently presented the Project Lifesaver program to members of the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office and several Bladen County department heads. The presentation highlighted how the tracking technology operates and how cross-agency collaboration can save lives during search-and-rescue operations.
How Project Lifesaver Works
Project Lifesaver is a specialized public safety initiative designed to protect individuals living with cognitive conditions—including Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, autism, and other conditions that may cause individuals to wander and become lost.
-
Tracking Transmitters: Enrolled participants wear a small radio transmitter on their wrist or ankle that broadcasts a unique, continuous tracking signal.
-
Rapid Response Equipment: If a participant goes missing, specially trained first responders use radio-receiver tracking equipment to hone in on the transmitter’s signal.
-
Drastic Reduction in Search Times: By utilizing targeted radio frequency technology rather than traditional grid searches, search and rescue times are reduced from hours or days to minutes, significantly increasing the likelihood of a safe recovery.
Strengthening Inter-Agency Cooperation
Law enforcement officials emphasized that regional partnerships are key to public safety, especially in cases where missing individuals cross municipal or county boundaries.
By sharing resources and training neighboring departments on Project Lifesaver protocols, local agencies aim to provide families and caregivers across southeastern North Carolina with extra peace of mind.
“Partnerships between law enforcement agencies are essential to strengthening public safety and ensuring our communities have access to resources that can make a life-saving difference,” the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office stated, reaffirming its commitment to supporting initiatives that protect vulnerable citizens.
© 2026 CoastalCarolinaNews.com | Jones Media Partners LLC
No content from this publication may be reproduced, republished, or used for commercial purposes without prior written authorization from Jones Media Partners LLC. For questions or comments call 910.898.2770 or you can reach out via our Contact Page.
Be the first to comment