The search for Joel Medina was a success, but also offered lessons for the next case.
A pair of young siblings were reported missing Wednesday night in Egg Harbor Township.
The 2- and 4-year-old were found quickly, but police already had put into action protocols cultivated by lessons from the nearly 36-hour search for a missing autistic teen last month, Detective Sgt. Brett Fair told a group gathered Thursday at the Cape May County Police Academy.
The presentation was part of two-day training for the Child Abduction Response Team, jointly hosted by the Atlantic and Cape May county prosecutor's offices.
Joel Medina's story was special in that it had a happy ending, which too often is not the case for search-and-rescue, Fair noted.
Even though Joel was found with just a few cuts and scratches from the brush and no medical issues, there were still improvements to be made, and much learned, Fair said.
Communication was a huge part.
From sharing information among the searchers to blasting updates on social media and emergency alerts to the public.
An important tool some were just learning about was SARTopo, a specialized mapping and tactical planning tool that provides real-time data visualization.
But downloading the app and getting to the right spot wasn't something that worked in the moment, and — when it came to the final rescue — in the dark.
The new checklist includes making sure to share the QR code that allows searches to livetrack the search and keeps record of the areas searched.
There was learning the hoops necessary to jump through to get Amazon to quickly release video from Ring cameras, and finding the need next time to delegate someone to go through an overwhelming amount of footage.
An autism questionnaire helps not only know the child's needs and limitations, but can have important things like whether police lights will draw their attention or scare them away.
Detective Richard Vogt added to the list of things, that you have to be ready for a different outcome than previously.
Fair noted that Joel had run away in the past but always was found within 45 minutes to an hour.
They expected that to be the case again. It was not.
In the end, it was teamwork and accepting help that led rescuers to the scared teen lost in the thick woods just more than half a mile from his home.
Joel was in a spot that the group may have turned from, with brush so heavy it would seem impossible that the teen made it through.
But FBI pilots with thermal imaging were able to cut through the thicket and "see" Joel.
"Joel stands up and we hear something to the effect of, 'I want my mommy!'" Fair said. "And we pause because, we're not highly confident he's there."
That's because the first "person" they were led to by the imaging was a puddle.
"So, we're like, 'Holy sh--, did we just hear what we just heard?'" he said. "Then (Joel) says it again, 'I want my mommy!'"
Joel was found.
Then it became a matter of bringing him back.
Fair shared body cam video edited by BreakingAC to show the group a condensed version of the nearly hour trek to lead Joel through the heavy brush, walking over down trees and even ducking under logs.
Joel was then back with his parents, and went to the hospital to get checked out, where it was confirmed he had no issues beyond the cuts and scratches from the woods.
"It was a win," Fair acknowledged.
It was also a lesson, and a step in improving response for the next time.
