Post by Jodi on Jul 7, 2005 15:13:35 GMT -5
There was an article in our local newspaper today referencing a nearby City that uses "people-trackers". Thought I would pass it on...
...The Monrovia Police Department announced a new strategy Wednesday to quickly locate people who wander away due to disabilities such as Alzheimer's disease, autism or Down syndrome.
Monrovia is the first city in Southern California to implement Project Lifesaver, a nationwide effort to find ill people who become lost, officials said.
"It's hard to be caregivers, and this is just one more thing we can do to give people peace of mind," said Monrovia Mayor Rob Hammond.
Hammond heard of Project Lifesaver in October at a convention. It was started in 1999 by the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office in Virginia, and has been used in more than 1,000 searches with 100-percent success rate, police said. While some people who wander off are gone for hours or even days, those wearing Project Lifesaver devices have taken an average of just 30 minutes to be found.
Hammond is responsible for bringing the tracking system to Monrivia. He said he hopes there will be a "ripple effect" as other local cities join the program.
People who participate in Project Lifesaver will wear a transmitter about the size of a watch on their wrist or ankle. The transmitter emits a unique frequency that would be tracked by trained members of the Monrovia Police Department if the person became lost.
The frequency can be detected up to 10 miles away, depending on the terrain, said Lt. Steve Cofield, who coordinates the program for the Monrovia Police Department. In urban areas, the reane is about a mile, he said.
The department spent about $8,000 for four of the locator systems and other costs associates with starting the program. Each personal transmitting device is $280, plus about $10 monthly for batteries. Police officials said no one will be turned away due to a lack of funds. Local service groups have said they will help fund needy families.
.... whew...
Jodi
...The Monrovia Police Department announced a new strategy Wednesday to quickly locate people who wander away due to disabilities such as Alzheimer's disease, autism or Down syndrome.
Monrovia is the first city in Southern California to implement Project Lifesaver, a nationwide effort to find ill people who become lost, officials said.
"It's hard to be caregivers, and this is just one more thing we can do to give people peace of mind," said Monrovia Mayor Rob Hammond.
Hammond heard of Project Lifesaver in October at a convention. It was started in 1999 by the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office in Virginia, and has been used in more than 1,000 searches with 100-percent success rate, police said. While some people who wander off are gone for hours or even days, those wearing Project Lifesaver devices have taken an average of just 30 minutes to be found.
Hammond is responsible for bringing the tracking system to Monrivia. He said he hopes there will be a "ripple effect" as other local cities join the program.
People who participate in Project Lifesaver will wear a transmitter about the size of a watch on their wrist or ankle. The transmitter emits a unique frequency that would be tracked by trained members of the Monrovia Police Department if the person became lost.
The frequency can be detected up to 10 miles away, depending on the terrain, said Lt. Steve Cofield, who coordinates the program for the Monrovia Police Department. In urban areas, the reane is about a mile, he said.
The department spent about $8,000 for four of the locator systems and other costs associates with starting the program. Each personal transmitting device is $280, plus about $10 monthly for batteries. Police officials said no one will be turned away due to a lack of funds. Local service groups have said they will help fund needy families.
.... whew...
Jodi
