On the evening of Monday, Sept. 29, the Portage County Sheriff’s Office issued a Be-On-the-Look-Out (BOLO) alert to the NEOMED Police Department for a missing 5-year-old girl with Down syndrome who had wandered from her home on Marks Avenue — a neighborhood just behind NEOMED’s campus.
The situation was urgent. The child was non-verbal, the evening was dark, and temperatures were dropping quickly. Within moments of receiving the alert, Officer Trent Alberts responded to the area, activating his cruiser’s lights and beginning a systematic search of the neighborhood.
As he canvassed the area, Officer Albert’s spotlight caught sight of a small figure moving through a nearby backyard. Acting quickly, he parked, exited his cruiser, and ran toward the child, calling her name. Confirming that she was indeed the missing girl, Officer Alberts immediately notified the Sheriff’s Office that she had been found safe.
Joined by a nearby neighbor who knew the family and NEOMED Officer Terri Moncoveish, the team gently reunited the young girl with her parents, less than four minutes after the initial call for assistance.
Reflecting on the event, Officer Alberts shared, “I have been a police officer for almost 19 years and have loved working for NEOMED Police since June 2019. I enjoy being part of the department and the surrounding community!”
In recognition of his exceptional response and dedication to community safety, Chief Kali Williams and Lieutenant Shawn Parker presented Officer Alberts with a Certificate of Commendation for his outstanding actions.