Multi-Agency Teamwork Helped Find Missing Barnegat Man: Police

BARNEGAT, NJ — Thanks to the help of several agencies and the community all coming together, a missing elderly man was found this past week.

Leslie Shaffer, 82, went missing earlier this week. The call came in at 5:39 p.m. on Oct. 18 that Shaffer was missing, according to Barnegat police. He had last been seen in the area of Nautilus Drive and Cloverdale Park. Police were concerned due to the cold weather and the fact that Shaffer has a history of dementia due to Alzheimer's Disease.

"The Barnegat Police Department mobilized resources and began a search of the area," police said. They used video footage to confirm that Shaffer had walked into the wooded area of Cloverdale Park, police said.

"Barnegat officers requested the assistance of our law enforcement partners to multiply both the available equipment and the number of boots on the ground conducting the search," police said.

In accordance with policy and State directives, Barnegat police requested activation of the State's Urban Search and Rescue Task Force, a part of the State of New Jersey's Search and Rescue Program. That program, a function of the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, is commanded by personnel from the New Jersey State Police. NJ is one of two states where search and rescue falls under the Office of Emergency Management.

"The Heritage Point community generously offered the use of the Heritage Point South Clubhouse for use as a command post," police said.

Police said that at the search's peak, there were some 80 personnel from 15 agencies and organizations searching. "Personnel used UAVs (drones), mounted units (horses), all-terrain vehicles, K9s, and a New Jersey State Police helicopter," police said.

"After an exhaustive search," police said that a search team found Shaffer in a heavily wooded area at 2:34 p.m. on Oct. 19. Shaffer was conscious, but unable to stand or walk, police said.

He was taken to Southern Ocean Medical Center, police said.

Chief Keith A. Germain thanked the many people and organizations who assisted in the search.

"This was a difficult search in cold weather and over unforgiving terrain. Despite that, dedicated personnel from all of these agencies came together as a team and worked against the clock to ensure a good outcome," Germain said.

Germain further thanked the New Jersey State Police and Office of Emergency Management.

"The expertise of NJ OEM and the State Police in bringing significant experience and resources to bear no doubt played a major role in our ability to find Mr. Shaffer in time," he said.

Barnegat police also thanked the following assisting agencies:

• Ocean County Sheriff 911
• Stafford Township Police Department and STPD Communications
• Barnegat Volunteer Fire Company Station 11
• Barnegat First Aid Squad, Inc.
• Lanoka Harbor Emergency Medical Services
• New Jersey State Police
• New Jersey Office of Emergency Management
• Ocean County Parks Service
• Ocean County Security Service
• New Jersey State Forest Fire Service
• New Jersey Department of Corrections
• New Jersey OEM Search and Rescue Council
• New York Search and Rescue
• Quality Medical Transport
• Hackensack Meridian Health Paramedics