Return Home Safe Program Open House

Newport Police Department has developed the Return Home Safe Program.  This program will assist in the safe and timely return of individuals who may wander and require police assistance to locate.  Individuals at high risk for wandering include: children or adults with Autism, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, Down syndrome, and other developmental disabilities.

The Return Home Safe Program will consist of a registry of these at-risk individuals that will give officers quick and easy access to photos and pertinent information from their cruiser, therefore, assisting in locating your loved one if he or she should become lost or missing.  Patrol Officer Jason T. Head says, "In the event your loved one is with a disability and can't communicate, is lost or wandered away from your or your home, time is critical and with this registry the police department will already have a picture and information to speed up the process of locating that missing person."

The registration process will record the individual's name, address, phone number, current photo, mode of communication, key phrases to help reduce trauma, emergency contact persons, and any other information to assist first responder in getting your loved one home safely.  This information will be automatically displayed on the responding officer's in-car computer.  "More and more people are being affected by developmental disabilities.  We can help families who worry about wandering feel more secure so they can address the other challenges in their lives that need to be overcome" says Officer Head.

The Newport Police Department will be hosting an open registration on Saturday, October 16 from 9 a.m. to noon in the assembly room off the front lobby of the police station.  All are welcome to stop in and have Officer Head register their family members, including taking their photo.  Asked why it is beneficial for people should come into the police station to register rather than doing so online, Officer Head answers, "To meet me and ask questions as this is a new program for the city."

If you are not able to register on Saturday, you can do so at your convenience by going to the city website www.cityofnewport.com and click on the police department link.