Michael Comeau, Stephanie Buzzella and Michael Williamson were all honored for their efforts in the rescue.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Members of the Berkshire Mountain Search and Rescue Team were honored recently by the state police for their efforts in finding an 87-year-old man who went missing last year for four days.

 

Stephanie Buzzella, Michael Williamson, and Michael Comeau were given a Commander's Commendation for dedication and actions by the state police in Framingham for their efforts in the October rescue.

 

The volunteer group joined state police in Washington last Oct. 19 to help find the man, who suffers from Alzheimer's. He had been seen leaving his Washington home at 6 p.m. that Friday wearing a windbreaker with blue, gray and orange colors and blue jeans.

 

State troopers used a K-9 unit, and air wing helicopter. The environmental police used an all-terrain vehicle. The Becket Police Department had two officers using thermal imaging cameras. CSX Railway operations were halted so the tracks could be searched but after a full day that Saturday, the man still wasn't located.

 

The next morning, efforts ramped up. Some 50 officers from the state police — including air wing and K9 - environmental police, CSX Railway, and both the Central Massachusetts and Berkshire Mountain search and rescue teams joined the hunt.

 

At 11:35 a.m., the State police helicopter located the man about a third of a mile from his home in a thickly wooded area. Three members of the Berkshire Mountain team and state troopers were guided to the man, who was later treated for dehydration and exposure after being taken out of the woods.

 

The 40-year-old team is a nonprofit organization with volunteers who specialize in search and rescue — from K-9 units to communications — for missing persons throughout the state and region.