Kent Police are encouraging caregivers to register children and adults who may have difficulty communicating or need special assistance in an emergency through the department’s new “Take Me Home” program.
The program gives officers access to information supplied by caregivers to help identify registered individuals, communicate with them and return them safely to loved ones, according to the Kent Police Department.
It is intended for people with autism, Down syndrome, developmental or cognitive disabilities, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and similar conditions. Police said it can help families whose loved ones sometimes leave home on their own.
When an officer encounters someone registered in Take Me Home, the officer can search the database by name, physical description or distinctive characteristics.
Caregivers can provide details about the best ways to communicate with the person and places they like to visit when they leave home. That information can help officers understand the person’s needs and assist them, police said.
“It can be a lifesaver when time matters,” police said in a statement. “Check it out to see if this works for your family.”
Families and caregivers can learn more and register through the Kent Police Department’s Take Me Home webpage.
