April 29, 2024 – CBI – Lakewood, CO –The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is pleased to announce the awarding of the 2024 People Who Wander grants.
Legislation passed during the 2022 Colorado legislative session enhanced efforts to provide assistance to Colorado families of people who wander, along with the availability of state-sponsored grants to assist local governments with recovery programs.
“We are excited to be able to provide families and others with a convenient resource for information related to people who wander through a comprehensive website and launch of the grant program,” said CBI Director Chris Schaefer.
The purpose of the Supporting Recovery Programs Persons Who Wander Grant program is to provide a funding opportunity for local governments in locating persons with medical conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, autism, brain injury, or developmental, cognitive, neurological, or chromosomal disorders.
The funds are to help encourage communities to establish recovery programs and provide tools that will increase the chances of saving the lives of lost and missing persons.
A total of $70,561 is being awarded to six law enforcement agencies. The Aurora Police Department is receiving ($29,870), Logan County ($13,700), Otero County ($11,729), Brush Police Department ($10,587), Montezuma County ($2,635) and Gunnison Police Department ($2,040). They plan to use the funding in a variety of ways.
For example, Otero County will be using its grant funding to purchase a drone for aerial searches of missing people.
“The Otero County Sheriff’s office is thankful for being awarded this grant for People who Wander through CBI, “said Sheriff Shawn Mobley. “In using equipment funded previously through this grant, we have had successful conclusions of search operations for at-risk adults and with this award are hoping to improve our capabilities and efficiency in the field and to ultimately save lives. The drone we are hoping to acquire will allow us to not only see in other light spectrums, but to communicate and deliver lifesaving payloads as well.”
Logan County and the Brush Police Department also purchasing drones to enhance their search efforts for people in rural areas who may wander away from loved ones.
There will be about $90,000 available for next year’s grant program. The CBI expects to open the new grant window in the fall.
For more information, visit the Colorado People Who Wander website: