Shhhhh – don’t tell anyone, but there was a major search for a missing person overnight in Cobourg.
At least that’s what it appears Cobourg Police want you to think.
The constant ongoing failures of the Cobourg Police Service is something we hoped would get better with a new year.
Instead – it’s either maintained the below average grade, or as in the case of a missing person overnight in Cobourg, it’s sunk to a new low.
From what Today’s Northumberland understands, a person was missing from the retirement home on University Avenue East in Cobourg on Monday, January 5, 2026.
Timing could be off, but it’s believed the individual was last spotted at around 10 p.m.
When the individual couldn’t be found, Cobourg Police were called.
We believe also that a canine unit from the Belleville Police Service was called to search inside the residence.
Since the person wasn’t located, the search expanded outside.
The description was a elderly man, possibly wearing sandals who had been missing for several hours.
Members of the Ontario Community Emergency Assistance Program (OCEAP) were notified.
They are a volunteer group of well trained people who responded when needed to assist emergency services.
And shortly after 2 a.m. Cobourg Fire Department were dispatched to help with the search.
There was a Command Post set up outside the retirement home.
Temperatures hovered around -6 Celsius.
Through the night, searchers walked from an area believed to be George Street, King Street, D’Arcy Street and to the VIA station.
Checking doors on apartments, parking lots, alcoves and alleyways, all the searchers did a remarkable job doing their best to find the missing individual.
At approximately 5 a.m. searchers were notified that Cobourg Police were stopping the search and would resume during daylight hours.
Shortly after 5 a.m. a social media post was issued by Cobourg Police with a photo and description of the person. While searchers combed the streets and alleys of Cobourg there was nothing issued letting whoever is on the streets to be aware of the missing person.
It was only after the search was called off that a social media post was issued. Not a press release, but a social media post.
At approximately 7 a.m. another social media post was issued stating the missing person was found.
If Today’s Northumberland didn’t take video and photos you would be under the assumption it was a minor occurrance – it wasn’t.
Today’s Northumberland has learned the person was found inside the retirement residence.
The good news is that the person was found, safe.
Mistakes happen, we don’t live in a perfect world. It will never happen.
If the person wandered off from his room to somewhere in the facility, staff can only do their best to find him. We are sure that happened. Calling in a canine unit to help was done. Again, you can only do your best.
But this is where the criticism comes into play.
When you have numerous searchers out searching an area with flashlights a release should have been issued promptly.
Of course it could be stated that it was in the early morning hours – who would read it, let alone post it?
Frankly, that’s irrelevant.
If one person did, that’s good enough. If a person walking their dog did, that’s good enough. A snow plow operator, a person who has insomnia. The goal is to get the message out about a missing person – promptly. Once the search extends outside the building it is again paramount to get that message out to people.
That didn’t happen.
The Cobourg Police Service is sinking faster than the Titanic when it comes to accountability.
It’s gone from a proud service, to a private service with Cobourg Police Paul VandeGraaf at the helm.
VandeGraaf isn’t keen on Today’s Northumberland.
That’s ok. It’s unfortunate, but it’s ok.
But don’t let the personality get in the way of the profession.
Blocking Today’s Northumberland from social media posts may or could jeopardize the outcome of a missing person.
Think about this – if you’re elderly parent went missing from a retirement home would it concern you?
Certainly it would.
Whether it’s your worst enemy if it helped get the word out as fast as possible you’d want them to do it.
It’s not the front line officers that are the issue.
It’s management.
The Chair of the Police Services Board, Adam Bureau has stated time after time he can’t do anything because it’s an “operations” issue.
Maybe that’s true.
But if that’s the case, let’s not give accolades in June for a job well done.
As a taxpayer and a person who has witnessed and reported on the repeated failures it’s not getting better.
Thankfully, today, there was a happy ending to this. The man was found inside the retirement residence.
At this stage – the sooner he’s gone, the better it may be for the community of Cobourg and its citizens.
It’s about being transparent and accountable. Neither is happening.
Officers do their best with the service.
It’s natural for the public and media to have questions.
Always been that way, and always should be.
Don’t come to conclusions – just ask the questions.
Go where the story guides you.
In March 2025 VandeGraaf was boasting at the Police Services Board meeting about the purchase of drones for just such a instance such as what took place.
The drone/s cost $40,000 and have infra-red technology for use at night for just such a case as a missing person.
VandeGraaf explained to the Police Board at the time that the drone could be up and running much faster than it would to call in a outside police service canine unit.
Today’s Northumberland didn’t see any drones in use, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t.
So we asked a number of questions to Cobourg Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf, Cobourg Police Chair Adam Bureau and Communications Officer Lisa Munday.
We have received no reply after three hours and doubt we will get one. If so, we will update the editorial.
First and foremost where was the person found?
Were drones used that the service has?
Was the canine used?
When was the person reported missing?
Why was the search stopped?
Why was no release issued when it happened or shortly after it happened?
It will be wishful thinking at best to see if VandeGraaf responds.
Police are the front lines are doing everything they can to keep the community safe.
At any debrief you look at what was done right, and what could have done better.
This editorial is in no way directed at officers who searched for hours.
But it is another indication of a secret police service operated by a taxpayer funded Chief who refuses to answer obvious questions.
June is still a number of months away – it’s time to start answering questions.
If it was any member of the public’s relative – they’d want to know.
Breaking News – Video – Photo Gallery – No Sign of Elderly Man Missing from Retirement Home
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
