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Emergency Responders Thanked for Dedication in Recent Search
The Legislature recognized emergency responders and community volunteers for their dedicated efforts during recent days in the search for 82-year-old Johanna Kirkwood, who wandered from her Lansing home and perished before searchers could find her.

Officials from the Sheriff’s Office and Department of Emergency Response were invited to the Legislature meeting to accept the Legislature’s thanks and recognition for the tireless efforts of their departments to organize and oversee the search, as well as of the hundreds of responders and volunteers, from throughout the community and beyond, who took part.

On Saturday, March 3, 2012 at approximately 12:00pm, deputies responded to 18 Horizon Drive in the Village of Lansing for a report of a missing person.  Upon arrival it was determined that Johanna L. Kirkwood left her residence while her husband was at the store.

Mrs. Kirkwood was described as an 82 year old white female approximately 5'4" tall, 110 lbs, white hair, possibly wearing a black quilted jacket, scarf over her head, white sneakers and carrying a purse.  Mrs. Kirkwood suffered from dementia.

Monday at 3:45pm Mrs. Kirkwood was found deceased in an open area between East Shore Drive and North Triphammer Road in the Town of Lansing.

Mrs. Kirkwood was located as the result of a search effort that was in continual operation since March 3.  No foul play is suspected.

"On behalf of the entire Tompkins County Legislature, I want to extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Johanna Kirkwood, who wandered from her home this weekend and passed away before searchers could find her. The heartbreak of dementia claims many victims for each patient, and we are deeply sorry for the family's loss," said Tompkins County Legislature Chair Martha Robertson.  "We are also tremendously grateful to the hundreds of emergency personnel and community volunteers who dedicated the last three days to finding Mrs. Kirkwood. In an outpouring of compassion, more than 500 volunteer searchers took part, including crews from as far away as Long Island and New Jersey. More than 200 came from our local fire and EMS agencies, joined by community organizations, businesses, and individuals. We are indebted to them all for their service."

The search effort was organized by NYS DEC Forest Rangers with the assistance of the Sheriff's Office, various search & rescue teams, numerous volunteer fire agencies, Civil Air Patrol, and 100's of community volunteers.

Sheriff Ken Lansing called it “quite an outpouring from the community” that was huge, and he credited the forest rangers from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation who coordinated the search and volunteer teams, as well as community businesses which donated food and support for the volunteers.

Assistant Director of Emergency Response Beth Harrington called it “a total team effort” involving nearly 650 people over three days, involving formal agencies and the community.

Robertson says individuals and their loved ones who are struggling with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia can find help at Tompkins County's Office for the Aging.

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