Sometimes it works the other way around...War Story Alert!

We responded one nice sunny day to a request for a search for a missing person. Before leaving base camp, the deputy in charge gathered us together (about 15-20 warm and willing bodies) and apologized in advance. This was just a search for show...A Border Patrol tracker has found the prints of the subject and followed him to the roadside, where he had gotten into a vehicle and left the area. The real effort was concentrating in downtown Tucson.

We were called out simply to fly the flag and make the overall operation look good. We were assured there was no chance of the victim being in the search area.

We all took this in, agreeing with the logic. It was a beautiful Arizona spring day (unlike what passes for spring in other parts of the country, like Alaska), so why not? We formed our teams, developed assignments, and set forth.

Twenty minutes later, we found our subject, about 300 yards distant from the spot where he allegedly hopped into a car....

It is not unknown that sometimes missions will be performed that are more for PR than any realistic expectation of finding the subject, a sure sign that the operation is nearing desperation....