After two days, officials decided no one was missing
CAPE MAY – After a few days of searching for a swimmer reported missing Thursday morning in Cape May, officials called off the search Saturday believing no one is actually missing.
The Cape May Police Department and Cape May City Fire Department posted on Saturday afternoon they were no long actively searching for a swimmer who was reported missing at the Madison Avenue beach about 7:15 a.m. Thursday Sept. 4.
“After a thorough investigation, we can confirm that no official missing person report was filed with our department and/or with our partnering agencies,” the post on the Cape May Police Department Facebook page read. “We will continue to monitor the waterways and shoreline within the patterns suggested by the U.S. Coast Guard and New Jersey State Police Marine Units.
“We understand the seriousness of any report involving a potentially missing person and appreciate the concern expressed by members of the community,” the post continued. “Our department treats all such situations with the highest priority and due diligence in this instance. Based on all available information, there is no evidence to suggest that a missing person case exists or is warranted at this time.”
The post went on to “encourage the public to continue to report any concerns regarding personal or public safety to our department so that the appropriate action can be taken immediately.”
The contact is in the CMPD Detective Division, Detective David Atkinson at (609) 884-9500.
Cape May police and firefighters were dispatched to the Madison Avenue beach around 8 a.m. Thursday morning after a report that a woman, approximately 30 to 40 years old, had gone into the water and had not surfaced. No one was found in the immediate area and it was discovered the report about the missing swimmer was an hour old.
A much larger search was initiated.
The Cape May responders worked with the USCG Fire Department, Air Station Atlantic City, Small Boat Station Cape May, Townbank Fire Company Fire Boat 61, North Wildwood Fire Department Fire Boat 2, NJSP Marine and Aviation units, Cape May Beach Patroland Private Marine Recovery Agencies. Members operated till just after 2:30 p.m., conducting water searches with side scan sonar.
The Cape May Beach Patrol closed all waters due to surf conditions.
Cape May police and firefighters reminded people to swim only near an active lifeguard stand on a protected beach.
– By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff