‘Take Me Home’ Program Will Aid At-Risk Belleville Residents

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Belleville police have launched a new program that aims to help protect local residents who are at high risk of becoming lost.

The program, dubbed “Take Me Home,” is registration/tracking system that helps law enforcement locate seniors, children with special needs and others who are at “high risk of wandering off,” according to a municipal notice.

Belleville officials said:

“The program can help find someone who has run, wandered or just walked away from a location within the township and ease in their safe return. The Take Me Home program is helpful for people who are nonverbal or easily disoriented. This includes those who suffer from Autism, Dementia, Deafness, Alzheimer's and other developmental disabilities … In the Take Me Home program, emergency information, photos and other descriptive information supplied by family is put into a database. This helps police officers and other emergency personnel save valuable time and contact family members or caregivers quickly. The database gives police access to information about the at-risk individual including diagnosis, method of preferred communication, favorite attractions or locations and any other behaviors that might help first responders.”

The program is strictly voluntary, and not limited by age or disability, public safety officials said.

Belleville police added:

“To register, complete an online form and return it with a recent photograph. The provided information and photograph(s) are only available to the members of this agency. Participants can scan the registration and email it to the Belleville Police Department with the attached picture. Email information and photographs to Sergeant Anthony Abate at aabate@bellevillenj.org. To have information picked up, please call 973-450- 3348. Information may also be submitted in person at Belleville Police Headquarters, 152 Washington Avenue, Belleville, NJ, 07109.”

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