Search called off for missing kayaker

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:54:00 GMT

BY JASON SCHREIBER

The Coast Guard called off its search on Sunday, March 1, for a missing kayaker, one day after his boat was found near an island off the Maine coast.

More than 200 rescue personnel spent the weekend searching the waters off the Maine and New Hampshire coasts in hopes of finding 59-year-old Hamilton “Toby” Wood of Contoocook.

After covering 400 square miles and finding only Wood’s kayak near Boon Island -- several miles northeast of the route he had taken -- the Coast Guard decided to suspend the search at 9:45 a.m. on March 1.

Wood’s family was at the Coast Guard station in New Castle when the announcement was made.

“They were disappointed we were unable to find him, but understand our decision and are appreciative of everyone’s search efforts,” said Chief Petty Officer John Roberts, the officer in charge of Station Portsmouth Harbor.

Roberts said the search couldn’t continue indefinitely and that a “difficult decision was made.”

Friends and family held out hope that he might be found, but that hope turned to grief as the search continued with no sign of Wood.

“He was a wonderful man, a wonderful father and a great outdoorsman,” said Amy Metcalf, a longtime friend, neighbor and business partner.

Wood went missing Friday, Feb. 27. while returning from a kayaking trip to the Isles of Shoals.

Metcalf described Wood as a highly experienced kayaker who had made the trip to the Isles of Shoals many times before, even during the winter.

At one point the Coast Guard had checked on him during the trip when someone who saw him head out in the kayak was concerned that the seas were too rough. The Coast Guard offered to bring him back to shore, but said Wood declined and decided to make the trip alone.

Wood had lunch on Smuttynose Island on Friday, Feb. 27, and notified the Coast Guard around 3 p.m. that day that he was on his way back to Odiorne Point in Rye, which is where he had parked his Subaru Outback.

When the Coast Guard had not heard from Wood by 5:15 p.m., it became concerned and quickly organized the search with crews from Station Portsmouth Harbor, Air Station Cape Cod and the Coast Guard Cutter Reliance. Coast Guard units and the Maine and New Hampshire Marine Patrols performed air and surface searches of the waters and coastline from Rye to Kennebunkport, Maine.

Police and fire departments from New Castle and Rye; and Kennebunkport, Ogunquit, Wells, York and Kittery, Maine, joined in the search by scanning the shoreline.

The Coast Guard praised the tireless efforts of the searchers who endured rough and frigid conditions.

“I am obviously saddened we did not rescue Mr. Wood, but I am grateful for the tremendous coordinated effort with our local first responders,” said Capt. Jim McPherson, commander of Coast Guard Sector Northern New England.

The decision to end the search brought little closure for those who knew Wood.

A father of two boys, Wood was a social worker at Warren Street Family Counseling Associates Inc. in Concord. Metcalf, a psychiatric nurse practitioner at the agency, called Wood a “tremendous therapist.”

Wood often worked in schools, was active in the community and enjoyed coaching youth sports.

“Toby was full of life and energy. People loved him very much,” said Metcalf, who remained with Wood’s family throughout the search.

Police guard arrest reports

Bow Editor — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 21:05:00 GMT

BY SARAH LEBRUN

Of the 16 police departments we visited, there was an even split between who allowed us to see a list of police activity and arrests for the week, and who didn’t.

While the Right to Know Law does not specifically address the need for police departments to keep a log of activity, recent court cases have clarified that arrests are public information, said attorney Kathleen Sullivan.

Eight departments – Candia, Dunbarton, Epsom, Hopkinton, New Boston, Salem, Pelham and Windham – provided police logs immediately or later that day.

Even at these eight departments, employees asked reporters who they were and why they wanted to see the log. At four departments, we were given the police log only after the person on duty figured out we were reporters.

Our reporter visited the Hopkinton Police Department, and asked the secretary, Patricia Finnerty, to see a list of the past week’s calls and arrests. She was asked if she was a reporter and then requested to show a press ID.

When our reporter said she didn’t have a press ID, Finnerty made a phone call.

“I heard her tell whoever was on the other end I had come to the station, claiming to be a reporter, and asking for the arrest log,” said our reporter. “After hanging up, she took the log out of a file and made a copy for me.”

Of the eight departments that wouldn’t give us the police log, Auburn, Bow and Pembroke required us to file a written request. Weare even suggested filing a Right to Know request.

In Hooksett, it was impossible to even find an employee to say yes or no to our request for information. On three separate visits, our reporter was either told no one could help him or there was no one at the police station window.

At the Allenstown Police Department, we asked for a list of last week’s calls and arrests. A woman asked for what purpose we needed the logs, and we said we just wanted to see them.

“We don’t have that information,” the woman said. “It doesn’t print out.”

In Bedford, we spoke with secretary Charlene Robinson and asked for the same list.

We were told if we wanted a list of arrests, we could try going to the court. When we asked if the Police Department had a list of calls and arrests, she said yes, but it was not for public viewing.

The Goffstown Police Department discovered our staffer was a reporter, but told her there is no police log.

Debbie Odette, an employee in the records department, said a Goffstown News reporter used to come in to speak with someone at the department about arrests, accidents and reports.

The Salem Police Department was willing to let us have a copy of the police log, but at a price.

A woman at the records window said we could get a copy, but it would cost $1 per page for the report we wanted.

Because we wanted to know what it would cost before committing to paying for the log, our reporter left her name and number for the department to call later with the cost.

Ten to 15 minutes later, the woman in records called to say they printed the report, and it was 158 pages, so it would cost $158.

The Salem Observer receives the police log free every week.

Hopkinton News : New Hampshire

Search called off for missing kayaker

Police guard arrest reports