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- The Madera Tribune

Shellie Alley speaks during a press conference, introducing "Operation Lost & Found" at the Madera County Sheriff's Department Tuesday. Alley's mother Karen Cornelison, who suffered from Alzheimer's, was reported lost a year ago and was not found until November.

To the Cornelison family their mother's death was not in vain, because her death was one of the major motivating factors for implementation of the Madera County Sheriff's Department "Operation Lost & Found."

During the "Operation Lost & found" press conference Tuesday at the Madera County Sheriff's Department, Sheriff John Anderson said at least one individual who suffers from Alzheimer's, some type of dementia or mental illness is reported missing or lost to the department, at least once a month.

The Cornelison family lost their mother, Karen Cornelison, who suffered from Alzheimer's Disease, approximately a year ago. The family had no idea what happened to Karen. They could only speculate.

According to one of the Cornelison family members, who was at the press conference Tuesday, the family suffered immensely during the eight-month period their mother was lost. They had to push themselves just to keep functioning.

After numerous search and rescue attempts by the Madera County Sheriff's Department, the family still had not sense of closure in regard to their missing loved one until November 2003, eight months after she was initially reported missing.

To the horror of one of Karen Cornelison's sons, he found her just a mile away from their home while he and his son were bird hunting.

"She was a mile away and it took eight months to find her. If my mom would have had one of these, there is no doubt to us we would have found her right away," Shellie Alley, Karen Cornelison's daughter said.

Cornelison's family was the first to purchase two of the electronic wrist-bands for the program.

"My mother did not die in vain. Her life's work caring for others is continuing. This is something my mother will always be remembered for," Alley said.

Anderson talked about the importance of implementing the program within Madera County during the press conference.

"You can not imagine what the family goes through. It is tragic and we are trying to avoid it," Anderson said. "If we can find one person it is worth it."

Operation Lost & Found is based on the utilization of electronic wristbands that will dramatically decrease the amount of time it takes to recover a lost person.

Currently Madera County and Santa Clara County are the only departments to utilize the program and technology in California.

The program is used predominantly on the East Coast according to Sheriff's department officials during the press conference.

The wrist-bands cost about $400 each.

Anderson said he wants to ensure that whoever needs one of these devices is able to have one even if they have to seek funds from community organizations and businesses.