We Find People.
Specialized missing person investigation, search, rescue and recovery utilizing animal, human and technological resources to produce real-world results.
Consecutive Years of Proven Operational Results
Integrated Capabilities
Measured by Results, Not Searches
What We Do
Missing Person Search
Core mission. Coordinated search operations for missing individuals across the Greater Philadelphia region and beyond.
Wilderness Search & Rescue
Grid searches, hasty teams, and containment operations across rugged and forested terrain.
Technical Search Operations
Confined space, structural collapse, and complex environment search requiring specialized equipment and training.
K9 Deployment
Trailing, air scent, and human remains detection. Certified teams deployed on request.
Drone / Aerial Recon
Proven aerial reconnaissance. Real-time situational awareness for incident command.
GPS Mapping & Probability Search
Data-driven search strategies using probability of detection models and GPS tracking.
Tools don't find people. Decisions do.
Where We Operate
Active coverage across seven counties in southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. Consultations throughout the United States.
County Impact
Searches conducted and outcomes by county
How We Work
Problem first. Terrain second.
Probability over hope.
Behavior patterns, not guesswork.
Reset when assumptions fail.
Integrate—not duplicate—local resources.
Request a Search
Emergency / Public Safety Only. Call 911 or Local Police. Request: Greater Philadelphia Search & Rescue.
Business Office: 877.255.5678 — Emergency agencies use Fireboard or make a direct call to Chief 2000.
We respond through official channels. No delays. No confusion.
Command Staff
Mark G. Hopkins
Chief
Mark G. Hopkins
Chief
Eric Hoffman
Assistant Chief
Eric Hoffman
Assistant Chief
Holly Clouse
Captain
Holly Clouse
Captain
Joe Vignola
Lieutenant
Joe Vignola
Lieutenant
Bill Hoffman
Sergeant
Bill Hoffman
Sergeant
Roie Gat
Sergeant
Roie Gat
Sergeant
Decades of field experience. Proven under pressure.
GALLERY IMAGES
REAL PEOPLE DOING REAL WORK
Work Matters Here
This is not a hobby. It's not casual. If you want real responsibility, step forward.
Contact Us
General inquiries, volunteer interest, agency coordination, or media requests. Use the form below. For emergencies, call 911.
Business Office
877-598-5618Emergency Activation
Call 911 or Local Police. Request: Greater Philadelphia Search & Rescue.
Support the Mission
100% volunteer. No cost to families. Your support keeps us operational.
GPSAR FAQ
Missing person incidents are time-critical, complex, and often misunderstood. This FAQ explains how search and rescue works, when to act, and how GPSAR supports law enforcement and families.
When someone goes missing, time is the enemy.
GPSAR brings experience, structure, and results.
Search & Rescue, Debunked
Misconceptions about missing person searches cost time and lives. Here's what's actually true.
Download the Printable Myth-Buster GuideExcerpts from Endorsements
Incident Command Reality
"They integrate cleanly into Incident Command without ego. You give them an objective, they execute. No noise, no confusion—just results."
Mission Focus
"They're not there for recognition or funding—they're there to find people. That mindset changes how they operate."
System Gap Filler
"There's a gap between law enforcement investigation and technical rescue. GPSAR fills that gap better than anyone in this region."
Law Enforcement Perspective
"GPSAR brings something most agencies can't replicate—experienced search personnel who understand terrain, behavior, and time. When they're on a case, the search moves faster and with purpose."
Incident Command Reality
"They integrate cleanly into Incident Command without ego. You give them an objective, they execute. No noise, no confusion—just results."
Operational Effectiveness
"GPSAR consistently covers ground that traditional response units simply don't have the training or time to handle. That difference matters in the first 24 hours."
Reliability Under Pressure
"They show up when others hesitate—middle of the night, bad weather, difficult terrain. That reliability builds trust quickly."
Cost vs Capability
"From a county standpoint, the value is undeniable. You're getting highly trained, field-proven responders without the long-term cost burden of maintaining that capability internally."
Specialized Skill Set
"Search is not rescue, and GPSAR understands that distinction. Their strength is locating the subject efficiently so the rest of the system can do its job."
Canine Program Credibility
"Their canine teams meet real-world standards, not just certification checkboxes. You can see it in how they work—controlled, disciplined, and effective."
Experience Over Credentials
"A lot of teams look good on paper. GPSAR proves it in the field. Experience shows in their decision-making and search strategy."
Multi-Agency Integration
"They work well with police, fire, and EMS without stepping on roles. That kind of interoperability is rare and extremely valuable."
Mission Focus
"They're not there for recognition or funding—they're there to find people. That mindset changes how they operate."
Community Impact
"Families don't care about organizational charts—they care about results. GPSAR gives them a real chance when time matters most."
System Gap Filler
"There's a gap between law enforcement investigation and technical rescue. GPSAR fills that gap better than anyone in this region."
Volunteer Strength
"You can't manufacture the level of commitment GPSAR volunteers bring. That kind of dedication doesn't clock out at the end of a shift."
Search Discipline
"They don't just 'look around.' They apply search theory, probability, and terrain analysis like professionals."
Proven Track Record
"We've used GPSAR before, and the outcome speaks for itself. When we need search capability, they're one of the first calls."
Media & Stories
Coverage of GPSAR operations and the people behind the mission.
The Brilliant Misanthrope Who Finds Philadelphia's Missing
A long-form feature on GPSAR Chief Mark Hopkins — the physician-turned-search-strategist whose unconventional methods consistently find people others miss.
Mt. Airy Man Races Against Time to Save Missing and Lost Persons
Chief Hopkins and GPSAR are profiled in this community feature covering the team's rapid-response model, probability-based search, and decades of field results.
Greater Philadelphia Search and Rescue: The People Who Find the Missing
NBC Philadelphia reports on GPSAR's all-volunteer structure, specialized training, and the critical role the team plays across the region's most complex missing person cases.
Body of NJ Woman Missing for Three Years Found
GPSAR assisted in the recovery of Angelina Cocuzza, a New Jersey woman missing for three years, in an operation that drew on the team's human remains detection capabilities.
Missing Man with Cerebral Palsy Found After Multi-Day Search
Craig Fant, a man with cerebral palsy, was located in Bucks County after GPSAR coordinated search teams across multiple jurisdictions in a time-sensitive operation.
Montgomery County Police Searching for Missing Teen with Autism
GPSAR joined Montgomery County authorities in the search for a missing teenager with autism, deploying behavioral-pattern search strategies adapted for the subject profile.
GPSAR Assists in Active Local Search and Recovery Operation
6ABC Action News covered GPSAR's deployment alongside local law enforcement, highlighting the team's integration with agency command structures and rapid activation protocol.
People Pray for the Lost — and GPSAR Comes to the Rescue
Chester Spirit covers a local community search in which GPSAR volunteers worked through the night to locate a vulnerable missing person, coordinating with residents and clergy.
A Malvern Mother Vanished. A Year Later, It's a Murder Investigation.
The Inquirer traces the search for a missing Malvern mother, documenting GPSAR's role in the extended operation as it transitioned from missing person case to homicide investigation.
Bucks Missing Men, Cadaver Dogs, 12 Feet Underground
GPSAR's cadaver K9 teams played a central role in a Bucks County search that required deep subsurface detection — locating remains more than 12 feet underground.
FBI Joins Search for Missing Philadelphia College Student
As the FBI joined the investigation into a missing Philadelphia-area college student, GPSAR provided field search coordination in a case that drew national media attention.
Human Remains Discovered in Schuylkill Township
Following a prolonged search involving GPSAR, human remains were recovered in Schuylkill Township — bringing a resolution to a case that had gone cold for months.
Family Asks for Help Locating Missing Norristown Man
GPSAR joined the search for a missing Norristown man at the family's request, deploying probability-based grid search teams as investigators worked the case.
Body of Missing Man Found in Aston
Search teams including GPSAR located the body of a missing man in Aston, Delaware County, concluding a search operation that mobilized multiple agencies across the region.
Urgent: Little Charlotte, 9, Missing from Bike Ride
PodcastGPSAR Chief Mark Hopkins appeared on Nancy Grace's Crime Stories podcast to provide expert search analysis in the urgent case of a 9-year-old girl missing from her neighborhood.
GPSAR Field Operations — Broadcast News Segment
VideoA broadcast news segment documenting GPSAR operations in the field, featuring the team's search coordination methodology, K9 deployment, and incident command integration.
GPSAR Search & Recovery — News Coverage
VideoBroadcast footage covering a GPSAR-led search and recovery operation, illustrating the team's real-world activation, field coordination, and working relationship with law enforcement.
Inside a GPSAR Search Operation
VideoVideo documentation of a GPSAR search operation, providing an inside look at team deployment, search grid management, and the operational tempo of a real missing person response.
Useful Links
NASAR
NASAR — National Association for Search and Rescue
FEMA
FEMA Urban Search & Rescue
PEMA
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
PSARC
PSARC
MRA
Mountain Rescue Association
SARBC
Search and Rescue of British Columbia
BCSAR
Berks County Search and Rescue
BURLCO
Burlington County Search and Rescue
PPD
Philadelphia Police Department Missing Persons
In The Field
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