South Brunswick Police Create Special-Needs Registry

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — This September, the South Brunswick police department created a special new service called the South Brunswick Special-Needs Registry, which is meant to help local residents who have a family member with special needs.

“In the past year, the department has handled 68 missing person cases, with nearly a third involving special-needs persons," said South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka. "Time is of the essence in these cases and this program will enhance our ability to respond.”

The Monmouth County Special-Needs Registry came in handy recently this past July, when police were able to locate a missing 16-year-old special-needs girl in Manasquan. Officers were able to locate the girl and reunite her with her parents because she was already registered with Special-Needs Registry.

The program will provide officers with vital information regarding a special-needs registrant's physical description, specific special needs, emergency contact information and a photograph. The voluntary program is open to all community members with special needs who reside, attend school or are employed in South Brunswick Township. This may include, but not limited to people with Alzheimer’s disease, autism, Down Syndrome, dementia or any other compromising condition. All information provided on the registry will remain strictly confidential and will only be utilized by first responders during times of emergencies.

The program is simple and easy to use. Residents can register by visiting www.sbtnj.net and completing the Special Needs Registry form. The completed form and photograph can then be emailed to specialneedsreg@sbtnj.net, or delivering/ mailing the form to the South Brunswick Police Department located at 540 Ridge Road Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852.

Once a resident submits a Special Needs Registry Form, the information will be readily available to officers on the computers in their patrol cars as well as in dispatch. When a call is received from an address, police officers and dispatchers will have access to the information about the special needs person living at that address. The officers on patrol can then immediately the person’s photograph and vital information.

South Brunswick police will also provide families and residents with special needs decals to affix to their homes and vehicles if they so desire, to indicate they are in the registry. The presence of a decal on a vehicle will alert the police officer to the possible presence of a special-needs registrant in the vehicle or in the home upon arriving at a scene. The use of the decal is completely voluntarily and not a requirement of the registry.

The information requested to register a special needs person includes the registrant’s personal identifiers such as their name, address, height, weight, emergency contact information, some details about their special needs and a recent photo. The registrant can also elect to provide additional information about themselves such as medical conditions, places frequented, method of communication, calming methods and triggering conditions.

Anyone with questions about the South Brunswick Special Needs Registry can call 732-329-4000 ext. 7469 or email specialneedsreg@sbtnj.net.