The Crime Stoppers of Middlesex County has adopted two bloodhounds trained to track missing persons.
Whenever someone goes missing in the county, Joker and Aleck -- a duo of bloodhounds from the county's Canine Search and Rescue Team -- are called upon to assist in law enforcement's search.
Crime Stoppers of Middlesex County has announced it is adopting the two dogs who are trained to track human scent, according to a statement from the county prosecutor's office.
The county's Crime Stoppers group assists law enforcement agencies by taking anonymous information about crimes in exchange for a cash reward. By incorporating the dogs, the statement said, the organization "is further committing its goal of promoting public safety in Middlesex County."
Several law enforcement agencies, including the New Brunswick Police Department, have offered to help fund the operation of the canine unit.
"When a person goes missing, be it a child or an adult, time is of the essence when it comes to locating and reuniting that individual with loved ones," Anthony Caputo, chairman of the Crime Stoppers board, said in the statement.
Joker and Aleck are owned and trained by Michael and Debbie Campbell, of South Plainfield, who are volunteers committed to public safety. Michael Campbell is a squad captain for the county Fire Marshal's Urban Search and Rescue Team and is also a captain at the New Market Fire Department in Piscataway.
"The Middlesex County Canine Search and Rescue Team is an integral part of that process. The New Brunswick Police Department, along with Crime Stoppers, is proud to be a supporter and contributor to such a worthy endeavor," Caputo said.
The canine unit has assisted the county prosecutor's office in more than 50 missing person investigations in the past three years.
"The use of the bloodhounds has been a valuable asset to our municipal police agencies during the investigation of missing endangered adults and children," Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey said in the statement.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.