On Wednesday night, September 23, 2026, the DeKalb County Police Department issued a Mattie's Call and subsequently located an elderly man with dementia safely within DeKalb County, Georgia. The prompt response led to the individual's safe recovery later that evening.
Mattie's Call is a specialized program operated by DeKalb County that mobilizes law‑enforcement resources when a person with dementia goes missing. The system is designed to quickly disseminate information and coordinate search efforts across the county.
When the missing man was reported, officers activated the Mattie's Call protocol, alerting deputies, emergency responders, and community partners to begin a coordinated search. The initiative emphasizes rapid communication and a focused approach to locating vulnerable adults who may become disoriented or lost.
The police department confirmed that the elderly man was found unharmed and returned to a safe environment. The successful outcome demonstrates the effectiveness of the Mattie's Call program in addressing the specific challenges associated with dementia‑related disappearances in DeKalb County.