Bedford County EMA Hosts Advanced K9 Search Training to Locate Missing Persons
Shelbyville, TN – Bedford County Emergency Management Agency Hosts Advanced K9 Search Training to Locate Missing and Endangered Persons. Scent Evidence K9 CEO Paul Coley conducted the advanced scent discriminate K9 trailing and scent collection seminar in Shelbyville, TN for Bedford, Metro Moore, Franklin County Emergency Management, and TEMA responders in April. The seminar focused on the SEK9 Search Response Protocol and new scent collection technology to enhance agency capabilities to locate missing and wandering persons. The K9 responders from all 3 counties are known for working closely together to respond to missing person cases in their area. Their partnership provides an increased range of coverage and specialized K9 search resources for those at risk of wandering in the Shelbyville, Lynchburg, and Winchester TN communities. Responders analyzed recent searches using sophisticated mapping programs and markers to show how their teams utilized their training in each case. The scenario-based training included rural and urban training environments as 6 Bloodhound teams worked trails in remote wooded areas and urban locations such as Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital. The K9 Teams also trained to collect effective scent articles before the search using advanced scent collection technology that included The SEKR Scent Evidence Vacuum. “Collecting the best scent article possible before the trailing work begins helps the search responders and specially-trained Bloodhounds find a missing endangered person faster when every second counts,” stated Coley.
Bedford County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency was awarded a Federal grant in 2024 to receive missing person response training and resources that enhance the agency’s K9 search capabilities. The Kevin and Avonte Program: Reducing Injury and Death of Missing Individuals with Dementia and Developmental Disabilities grant provides Scent Discriminate K9 Trailing and Response Protocol training to the Bedford County Emergency Management K9 Team and first responders. The training and resources included in the grant are provided by the Scent Evidence K9 Bringing The Lost Home Program. Bedford County EMA has participated in the scent discriminate K9 training with neighboring Metro Moore Emergency Management, Franklin County Emergency Management and Rescue, and TEMA for several years and their teamwork has resulted in multiple lifesaving missing person recoveries in TN. The grant also implements a highly successful Scent Kit program for people with Alzheimer’s Disease and autism who are at high risk of wandering. “Bedford County EMA’s strong partnership with Metro Moore and Franklin County and their use of mapping and trail analysis is helping them develop a more effective response when a person goes missing. Being able to determine a missing person’s direction of travel helps place search resources in the right area for a quick and safe recovery,“ stated Coley.
The Bringing The Lost Home Scent Kit program provides free Scent Preservation Kits to families and caregivers of people at risk of wandering and going missing. Having A Scent Kit prepared in advance helps responders begin their search faster with an uncontaminated scent article to present to the K9s. The Scent Kits also contain an Individual Preparedness Plan flash drive that is designed to provide responders with vital information before a person goes missing. “The information on the IPP gives responders accurate information that was collected before a crisis. The location of nearby bodies of water, current ID descriptions, and any trauma-informed information that can calm or agitate a person with Alzheimer’s Disease or a non-verbal child with autism can help lead to a quick and safe recovery of a loved one,” stated Coley.
The Alzheimer’s Association states that 60% of those with Alzheimer’s Disease will wander. The American Pediatric Association states that 50% of children with autism will wander at least once before age 17. For more information on how to get a free Scent Kit for someone at risk of wandering in the Shelbyville area visit or contact Bedford County EMA. Special thanks to Amanda Dye and Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital for their help in providing the search scenario locations and trail layers during the training. To learn more about the Bringing The Lost Home Program visit ScentEvidenceK9.com
