William Hare, Jr., 78, of Baldwinsville was reported missing the afternoon of Wednesday, Dec. 21.
In an attempt to locate Hare, who was considered an endangered person due to a medical condition, the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department issued an alert with the New York State Missing Adult Alert system, which informs police agencies and others through a vast communication network of the description, identities and specifics of the missing adults. Without the new legislation just signed into law approximately three months ago, a missing person report could be filed only after 24 hours had passed. With this legislation, notification is sent immediately.
Sheriff Deputies located Hare the following morning thanks to a phone call from a convenience store clerk in the Town of Phelps who, unaware that Hare was reported missing, called Ontario authorities because Hare appeared to be disoriented
Earlier in the week, a Town of Tonawanda woman was located after being missing for two hours. A missing adult alert was also sent throughout New York State in her case.
Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli reacted with joy and relief when told that two upstate residents were found unharmed, partly due to the alert system legislation that he wrote and sponsored along with Sen. John DeFrancisco.
“Tell me this alert system doesn’t matter,” Magnarelli said.
The system is modeled after the successful Amber Alert system used for missing children.
“It is unfortunate that we need this type of alert for elderly and vulnerable adults who may have disabilities or are in distress,” Magnarelli said. “However, this is a common-sense law using communication tools that are already in place to save lives.”
