BOONE, Iowa—The Boone County Sheriff’s Department was involved with locating a missing kayaker Sunday evening. The call to the communications center was received at 8:47 p.m.  The Sheriff’s Department released information on the incident on their Facebook page Monday morning:

On Sunday night, 8/22, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a potentially lost kayaker on the Des Moines River. Deputies were sent to the area and were assisted by DNR and Iowa State Patrol. Shortly after the search began it was determined that with the amount of area to be covered and the manpower available that assistance would be needed. Off-Duty Deputy Gustafson was contacted and asked to fly the area with a FLIR equipped UAV, he is one of two at the BCSO who are currently certified to fly the drone. Deputy Gustafson quickly ended his grocery shopping and arrived at the scene in his personal vehicle and out of uniform. With his assistance and willingness to drop what he was doing on his day off, as well as the coordinated efforts of everyone else involved the kayaker was located safely and returned home. Had Deputy Gustafson not been willing to show up while off-duty this rescue would have taken longer and possibly ended very differently. We are ever appreciative of the men and women in our office who continuously strive to serve the community day in and day out, even when they’re not on-duty.

(contributed article, BCSO)