The Henderson Police Department is starting a new program for both city and county residents called “Keep Me Safe.”
What is the “Keep Me Safe” program?
The program “Keep me Safe” was a dream and idea of Henderson Police Officers Whitney Watkins and Danielle Cook. Wanting to learn about and know where our citizens with Autism and Dementia live in our community and in efforts to better serve our citizens in the event someone walks off from their residence or has a break down or critical incident, the program “Keep Me Safe” was created. It is basically a data base which citizens volunteer to sign up for. It is a data base with information for law enforcement and first responders containing the needs and information on our citizens with Autism or Dementia.
How does the “Keep Me Safe” program help?
In the event a call comes into dispatch from a particular address, registered with the program, it will flag the location as the home of an Autistic or Dementia person. This gives Officers or first responders information, that a person at this location may be non-verbal or have certain fears. This will help the Officer or first responder with dealing with the call. It also helps in the event a person with dementia wanders off from their residence and comes into contact with an Officer. The Officer can search the data base and quickly get a contact name, number and address for a care taker. It can also be a tool to get information out quickly to emergency personnel when someone is missing.
“This is another resource at HPD that we hope will help law enforcement and first responders respond even more prepared to a call that involves a person that is enrolled in this program,” Police Chief Gary Davidson said. “I want to strongly encourage anyone that has a friend, loved one or family member that qualifies for this program to please enroll. We are committed to do all we can to keeping them safe,” he said.
How do I sign up my loved one for the “Keep Me Safe” program?
Stop by the Henderson Police Department (Monday - Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.) located at 121 Crook Avenue, Henderson, to get an application to be completed, or go to https://www.hendersontn.gov/keep_me_safe.html and submit your form online.
An updated photo of the person is necessary. Anyone living in Chester County qualifies.
What happens next?
Applicants will be contacted by Officer Watkins or Officer Cook for a home visit. Officers will meet with your loved one and review your application for accuracy. The HPD will take it from there! Your information will be entered with your address for 911 and your loved one will be enrolled in the data base. Program participants should notify the HPD of any changes as they may occur. A yearly review will be conducted by the department to verify current status.
