City senior found safe

SOUTH PORTLAND — A 76-year-old South Portland woman with dementia was found in the evening of July 23 about 20 minutes after an alert was issued on the CityWatch reverse 911 system.

The woman, identified by South Portland police only as “Mary,” was reported missing from a Kaler Road home shortly after 4 p.m. that day. She had been gone for roughly an hour and, after a police search failed to locate her, a notice was published on the CityWatch system, That alert, issued at about 7:20 p.m., advised local residents by landline and subscribers via cell phone and email, about the situation, giving a description of the woman’s appearance and medical condition, along with an advisement that she is “known to wander.” Anyone spotting her was asked to call 9-1-1.

“Out of concern for the female’s safety and well being, the department also contacted the Cape Elizabeth Police Department and the Maine Warden’s Service, a primary resource in search and rescue type missions, which responded with a K-9 [search dog],” wrote South Portland Police Department spokesman Lt. Frank Clark, in a post-incident press release.  

At approximately 7:45 p.m., wrote Clark, a Sawyer Street resident reported the missing woman “may be on her property.” 

“Officers and wardens located the woman tangled in thick shrubbery, he said, adding,  “She was transported to Maine Medical Center as a precaution.”

“If anyone has a family member suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s, or another disability impairing their memory or ability to effectively communicate, the department has a registration program to assist and provide some peace of mind,” said Clark. “Please contact Officer Jeff Caldwell at 799-5511, ext. 7254, for more information.”  

Anyone can sign up to receive CityWatch alerts on the South Portland website, www.southportland.org, under the “emergency communications” section. To listen to any current alert, call 347-4101.