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PBA of New York State Applauds Forest Ranger, Park Police Leadership in Rescuing Missing Hiker
Monday, June 01, 2026MOREAU, N.Y.— The Police Benevolent Association of New York State (PBA of New York State) is sharing new details and applauding its New York State Forest Ranger and Park Police members, following this week’s rescue of a lost elderly hiker at Moreau Lake State Park.
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May 30, 2026
PBA of New York State Applauds Forest Ranger, Park Police Leadership in Rescuing Missing Hiker
MOREAU, N.Y.— The Police Benevolent Association of New York State (PBA of New York State) is sharing new details and applauding its New York State Forest Ranger and Park Police members, following this week’s rescue of a lost elderly hiker at Moreau Lake State Park.
Hiker Albert F. Sakowicz, 88, was reported missing to State Police at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27 after not returning from his morning hike at the state park. He was discovered by a PBA member Forest Ranger roughly one-tenth of a mile off the nearby Eastern Ridge Trail, which skirts Grant Mountain and arrives at a scenic overlook of the Hudson River.
In thick, steep forest terrain, the Forest Ranger used a tactic known as “linear search” to walk the park in a uniform manner adjacent to individual park features, such as trails and common areas, before finding the hiker in a deep wilderness area.
Elsewhere, New York State Park Police assisted the search with K-9 units and aerial drone surveillance technology, as well as additional linear ground search teams under the supervision of Forest Rangers. New York State Police joined the effort as well.
“The search for this hiker was truly an ‘all-hands-on-deck’ effort. Ultimately, a Forest Ranger in the absence of technology relied on tried-and-true analog search methods to bring the lost hiker home,” said James McCartney, president of the PBA of New York State. “This is the same ingenuity which Forest Rangers have shared for more than 140 years, and which each of our members bring to their respective units every day.”
New York State Forest Rangers endorse the national “hikeSafe” program for hikers and campers preparing to venture into state parks or public lands (https://www.hikesafe.com/).
About PBA of New York State: Established in 2011, the Police Benevolent Association of New York State (PBA of New York State) is a law enforcement labor union representing the interests of approximately 1,200 members of the New York State Agency Police Services Unit (APSU). The PBA of New York State is the exclusive bargaining agent for the New York State University Police, the New York State Environmental Conservation Police (ECO), the New York State Park Police and the New York State Forest Rangers. Our members patrol and protect New York State’s public universities and colleges, state parks and historic sites, and enforce all state laws and regulations protecting New York’s lands, forests, waterways, environment and citizens. Learn more at pbanys.org.
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