Officials Asking For Volunteers In Search For Dr. Smith

Putnam and Overton County authorities have issued a silver alert for Dr. James Smith of Cookeville (left). This photo of Smith was taken on Sunday, April 14.

Upper Cumberland officials are asking for the public’s help in searching for a missing eldery Cookeville man.

Overton/Pickett EMA reports 83-year-old Dr. James Smith has not been found as of Friday evening.

Volunteers interested in helping find Smith can visit the command post on Copeland Cove Road off Highway 84 Saturday morning at 9 a.m.

Officials will have search teams on foot, horse, and all-terrain vehicles to help find Smith.

Smith’s truck was found unoccupied along Copeland Cove Road. He was last seen wearing glasses, a multi-colored shirt, and denim jeans.

Authorities describe Smith as a six-foot tall, 160-pound white male. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office reports Smith typically uses a cane to walk and was recently diagnosed with dementia.

Overton/Pickett EMA says several agencies from across the state have assisted in the search thus far, with Putnam County and the Tennessee Highway Patrol using helicopters to search by air.

Morgan and Warren County K-9 Units and Rutherford SWAT members have also assisted in the search.

Churches and other organizations who would like to donate resources for the search can deliver them to the Overton/Pickett E-911 building off Industrial Park Drive in Livingston.

Authorities encourage anyone with information on Smith’s location to contact either the Overton or Putnam County Sheriff’s offices immediately.