Day Five: State and Local Authorities Continue Search for Sill

WILDWOOD — State and local police are continuing their search to find missing Middle Township police officer Jason Sill.
“We’re going to keep our boat in the water until he’s located,” said Middle Township police Capt. John Edwards in an Aug. 31 interview with this newspaper. According to Edwards the township’s police dive team has been searching in the water at least twice daily.
Both state and local police have now limited their search to a surface search. State police discontinued the use of side scan sonar on Wed., Aug. 29 at 3 p.m.
“This is an on-going investigation,” said Williams, noting Sill’s disappearance offered a “mysterious situation.”
Sill, 39, of Court House was last seen alone at about 9:30 a.m. Mon., Aug. 27 leaving Pier 47 Marina on Route 47 in Rio Grande in his 23-foot Nautic Star boat named the Rock ‘n’ Reel. He told several people at the marina he was going fishing in the back bay.
A Good Samaritan mariner reported finding the boat approximately 1 mile off the coast. A boat crew from Coast Guard Station Cape May arrived on scene with Sill’s boat and discovered the keys in the ignition with the engine in the down position with the throttle forward. Fishing poles were also discovered on the boat.
Watch standers at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay, which is responsible for the entire maritime area around Cape May County, took the initial report and launched what became a widespread search that included numerous Coast Guard boats and helicopters, State Police Marine Bureau watercraft and divers from both State Police and Middle Township Police Department. Fire companies and beach patrols with Jet-ski capability joined the search onshore and offshore.
On Tue., Aug. 28 at approximately 10 p.m., Coast Guard suspended its search for Sill. State and local police, however, continue their search for the missing officer. State police confirmed they had discontinued the use of side scan sonar on Wed., Aug. 29 at 3 p.m., but continued to conduct a surface search.
“All search efforts are being made with negative results,” Williams told the Herald. “Nothing has been found.”