On December 12th, at about 5:40 pm, a call from another agency came into dispatch indicating that a woman with dementia had left her care facility and was possibly lost in Seattle, most likely near the Woodland Park Zoo. A family member had spoken with the woman about an hour before hand, and had reason to believe she might be at the zoo, although by the conversation, sounded as though she might be confused as to her whereabouts.
The call was broadcast and a number of officers responded to assist. It was dark, and the temperature was dropping. One of the Parking Enforcement Officers (PEOs) heard the broadcast call and volunteered herself and the other PEOs working in North Seattle to assist with the search. Approximately 45 minutes after the initial call, the Parking Enforcement Officer located the missing woman in the lower parking lot of the zoo. She was later transported to an area hospital for observation. She has since been reunited with her family. This was a fantastic resolution and a great effort by the Parking Enforcement Officer!