October 22, 2024 – CBI – Lakewood, CO – The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is encouraging law enforcement agencies to apply for grant funding that helps recover people who may have wandered.
In just the first 8 months of 2024, CBI issued 47 Senior Alerts on behalf of elderly people who went missing. That is more than all the Medina, Endangered Missing and AMBER Alerts combined. One-third of all alerts CBI has issued so far this year are for Senior Alerts making it the number one category of alerts issued in Colorado.
In 2022, Colorado lawmakers created the Persons Who Wander grant that provides nearly $90,000 dollars to assist local law enforcement with recovery programs.
The funding can be used by any combination of counties and municipalities for the following purposes:
- Equipment costs
- Technology costs
- Training of search personnel
- Outreach about recovery programs for persons who wander
- Any other costs required to implement or maintain a recovery program for persons who wander will be considered.
Past awards have funded the following: drones, drone pilot training, thermal imager for remote searches, wearable tracking technology, as well as wandering program promotion and outreach.
Award amounts will vary by application. The grant fund totals $89,141.
Grant Application Period: September 2, 2024 - November 29, 2024
Funding decisions announced: mid-December, 2024
Grant Agreement Issuance: mid-December, 2024
Award Period: January 1, 2025 - June 30, 2025
Link to apply for the grant: