Project Lifesaver assisted Police with returning child home quickly and safely
On October 2, 2019, Port St. Lucie Police responded to the area of SE Thornhill Drive and SE Fallon Drive for reports of a juvenile male running through traffic north on SE Thornhill Drive; called in by a passerby.
Police arrived at the location and safely grabbed the juvenile. The juvenile was non-verbal and appeared somewhat distressed. The Juvenile had a small white tracker/transmitter bracelet on his ankle. The Officer immediately notified the Certified ‘Project Lifesaver’ on-call Sergeant. He almost immediately was able to identify the juvenile based on a photo the officer provided. Within minutes he was able to provide the officer with the name of the child and the child’s home address due to stored information on the Project Lifesaver database.
Police conducted a thorough investigation. They learned the child is Autistic and the parents have been doing everything possible to keep the child safe to include securing a tracker/ transmitter bracelet on the child’s ankle. No criminal charges being filed as there were no indicators the parents were neglectful; the child managed to bypass the house alarm. No injuries were reported. The child was quickly returned to his parents. Because of the steps they took to protect the child; enrolling him in local Project Lifesaver Program which allows for police to quickly locate individuals with cognitive disorders who are prone to life threatening behavior of wandering.
*The PSLPD continues to team up with Project Lifesaver International. This provides citizens who have the tendency to wander with a tool that allows Law Enforcement to locate and return them home. If you know of a loved one who has been diagnosed with Autism, Alzheimer’s, Down Syndrome, dementia, or have suffered a traumatic brain injury. Project Lifesaver International has trained and provided the PSLPD with equipment that is needed to locate these individuals when they leave and are wearing a RF transmitter. This equipment greatly enhances the chances of recovering your loved one quicker, allowing them to return home, back to their families.
For additional information contact on Project Lifesaver International:
Sergeant Charles Lumpkin
Port St Lucie Police Department
772 807-4436
Project Lifesaver.org
Project Lifesaver International Headquarters
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