The large-scale emergency operation was launched this afternoon after a car was found on the beach in East Preston.
A Sussex Police spokeswoman confirmed the operation was in relation to their search for missing man Alexander, whose surname the force did not provide.
The 50-year-old from Sheffield was last seen near East Preston beach on December 22.
Police said they are concerned for his welfare.
A bystander at the scene of the incident described the emergency response as “huge”.
Several police cars attended with dozens of officers, including police dog handlers seemingly scouring the beach.
The RNLI lifeboat team from Shoreham took to the sea and the coastguard team from Littlehampton worked in the area.
The Shoreham lifeboat launched at 2.35pm today, a spokesman for the RNLI said.
A coastguard helicopter was also flying over the area.
A coastguard spokesman said: “HM Coastguard received a request for assistance from Sussex Police with an incident at East Preston beach just after 14:10 today (December 22).
“A coastguard helicopter, Littlehampton Coastguard Rescue Team and Shoreham RNLI lifeboats have been sent.”
Photographs from the scene showed one coastguard team member seemingly looking inside a window of the car.
Another looked like he was looking in bracken near the beach.
Other pictures showed a police dog handler walking along the beach with his canine colleague.
Sussex Police said Alexander is 5ft10 in tall and wears baggy clothing and a hat.
An earlier appeal issued today from the force asked if anyone sees Alexander, to call 999 immediately quoting serial 0508 of 22/12.
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