Clinton Police Start 2 Programs For People With Cognitive Disabilities

Information via Clinton police

CLINTON, CT — The Clinton Police Department is pleased to announce the implementation of two new programs designed to better protect and serve our community members living with cognitive disabilities.

The first program, Project Lifesaver, is a national program which enrolls participants, whom are prone to wandering and have a diminished ability to communicate with others or have difficulty comprehending their surroundings. These clients are issued a small radio transmitter (usually worn as a bracelet), if they are reported missing by their registered caregiver, CPD personnel now have the equipment and training to track the missing client by means of radio tracking. This is particularly important along the shoreline, as many who wander are often attracted to bodies of water. This increased ability to locate these individuals, will greatly improve the chances of them being returned home, safe and unharmed. The program was made available through a generous grant received from the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.

The second program, Empower Card, was implemented in conjunction with the Clinton Public Schools and will help us better serve and protect our students living with cognitive disabilities. The program was developed right here on the shoreline by the Guilford Police Department. It provides students with individual cards, which they can wear that contain information about the student. The information contained on these cards will enable first responders to rapidly identify these students in both routine and emergency situations to get them quickly reunited with family and caregivers.

Both of these programs are now available to any Clinton residents whom are living with cognitive disabilities. The Empower Card Program is currently available to Students of the Clinton Public Schools. Anyone interested in enrolling a family member should contact: Corporal John Harkins @ jharkins@clintonct.org or call (860) 669-0451

The Project Lifesaver program is available to all qualifying Clinton residents. Anyone interested in enrolling a family member should contact: Sergeant Bryan Pellegrini at bpellegrini@clintonct.org or Officer Kate Recchia at krecchia@clintonct.org or call (860) 669-0451.