09/04/2026
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lt. Col. Myrick
Project Lifesaver: Helping Bring Loved Ones Home Safely
Spotsylvania County, VA - Each year, the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office responds to numerous reports of missing or wandering individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, autism, Down syndrome, dementia, and other cognitive conditions. We remain committed to helping bring these vulnerable individuals home safely to their families.
One important resource supporting this mission is Project Lifesaver. This internationally recognized nonprofit program helps public-safety agencies quickly locate individuals who may wander or elope because of a cognitive condition. Project Lifesaver is not a registry, it is a proactive search-and-rescue program designed to save lives, reduce response times, and prevent injury.
The program uses pulse-carrier radio frequencies assigned by the Federal Communications Commission for medical purposes. Participants wear a personalized bracelet that continuously emits a tracking signal. Each bracelet has a unique frequency, allowing specially trained Sheriff’s Office personnel to locate and positively identify a missing participant. The Sheriff’s Office also uses a drone-mounted receiver, significantly expanding and enhancing search capabilities.
Project Lifesaver is provided free of charge to Spotsylvania County residents. The cost of each wrist-transmitter bracelet kit and related maintenance is supported through grants, community and business donations, funding approved by the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors, and other budgeted resources. The Sheriff’s Office currently serves more than 130 Project Lifesaver participants.
The Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to protecting our most vulnerable residents and helping reunite them with their families.
For more information about Project Lifesaver:
• Visit www.spotsylvaniasheriff.org/project-lifesaver
• Call (540) 582-7115
• Email [email protected]
Help us help bring your loved ones home safely.