MOOSE JAW — The search for resident Glen (Archie) Bell involved hundreds of people spending nearly 2,000 hours looking for him, while it was also the largest since Tamra Keepness’ disappearance in 2004, police say.
Bell, 80, went missing on June 26 around 11:30 a.m. after he wandered away from his home because he had dementia.
Between June 26 and 28, 82 professionals—military, police, and search and rescue—and 335 citizen volunteers combed the city, with the trained search members contributing 551 hours and walk-on residents providing 1,303 hours.
All efforts totalled 1,854 hours or 77.25 days.
Searchers eventually found Bell deceased in a remote greenspace area within city limits at around noon on June 28.
Deputy Chief Rick Johns and Const. Jeremy Anderson summarized the search efforts during a presentation to the board of police commissioners at its July meeting.
It became quickly apparent to police that Bell was a vulnerable person, so the agency “stood up” its critical incident command centre at headquarters and brought together a team of people and resources, explained Johns.
Supt. Taylor Mickleborough and acting Supt. Cam Lewis spearheaded the police service’s involvement in the search, while Staff Sgt. Chad Scheske and Anderson were search-and-rescue co-ordinators, he continued.
Hundreds of volunteers also stepped forward, including groups that provided drone support.
“Sadly, it didn’t have the outcome (as) the missing person was found deceased … ,” said Johns. “We needed a great deal of support from the community, which (it) delivered in spades.”
Search teams began looking for Bell around Wolfe Avenue since that was his last known location, and while he had wandered away at 11:30 a.m., the agency activated its search and rescue procedures at 8 p.m., said Anderson.
Since he suffered from dementia, Bell had walked away from his residence before with his small dog, Alfie, but was always found safe and sound, the constable continued.
The first operational period on June 26 included the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) and the Moose Jaw Search and Rescue (MJSAR), which organized its staging area at 9 p.m. at Ross School before moving to Chateau St. Michael. The team then searched the area from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
The second operational period on June 27 launched at 8:30 a.m. and continued until 11 p.m. Besides the MJPS and MJSAR, the fire department, provincial search and rescue members and volunteers also pitched in, while other resources used included drones, dogs, boats and horses.
“The response we got was overwhelming … ,” Anderson said. “This was the biggest search I’ve ever been a part of. And the members from search and rescue were saying this is the biggest search they’ve been a part of since Tamra Keepness went missing.”
The third operational period on June 28 kicked off at 7:20 a.m. and continued until 1 p.m. when searchers found Bell’s body — with his dog watching over him — about 250 metres from where he was last seen, the constable continued. Footage from a business’ security camera helped identify the man’s location.
While finding a dead body was not ideal, Anderson added that this was still a successful search because they found Bell and brought closure to the family.
Supt. Mickleborough said it was “overwhelming and awesome” to receive so much support, especially since people acted quickly and the organization had more volunteers than it could safely deploy.
Moreover, the MJPS mobilized all its resources to support the search, while there were many moving pieces to keep under control, he added. Also, the family appreciated the support the community offered.
The way this search was conducted was “second to none” and was pursued exactly how it should have been, even with its complexity, said Chief Rick Bourassa. Also, the community’s commitment was amazing and should be highly praised.
