NORWOOD, Mass. — With the help of drones, K9 units, and mutual aid partners, Norwood police safely located a 77-year-old resident who had walked away from the Ellis Rehabilitation Center.
A Silver Alert was issued for James Mayo after he left the facility around 6:30 p.m. Monday.
Police noted that cases involving elderly individuals—especially those who may be experiencing cognitive impairment or other medical conditions—can often have tragic outcomes.
However, thanks to the swift response of officers, dispatchers, K9 teams, drone operators, and assisting agencies, Mayo was located safely within a relatively short time.
Video released by police shows drones, donated by the Simoni Foundation, being used during the search. The footage also captures officers emerging from a wooded area with Mayo after he was found.
“What were the elements you were facing and why did this gave a sense of urgency to finding this man?” Boston 25’s Bob Ward asked Norwood Police Chief Chris Padden.
“This area is a wetland area,” Chief Padden said. “Once you walk in there, it might be a different temperature in another area, but down there it’s very wet and cool. You lose body heat very quickly, especially for an older gentleman. This could have been a very difficult situation for him.
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