Taylorsville police adopt Project Safeguard, a program that provides information on person with special needs
Jan 30, 2024, 6:59 AM
A question that Project Safeguard asks about the person with special needs. (KSL TV)
(KSL TV)
TAYLORSVILLE — Time is of the essence when responding to any call for police, especially when it involves a missing person with autism, dementia, or any other special needs.
Project Safeguard, a program spearheaded by The Unified Police Department several years ago, aims at helping law enforcement have access to important information quickly about specific individuals that could help police in any given situation.
Multiple agencies throughout Salt Lake County already participate and have access to this information. The program is now being implemented by the Taylorsville Police Department.
“Having that background input directly from the family, what is best for those situations, definitely helps us,” said Lt. Jaren Fowler with Taylorsville police. “It saves time.”
Families go online and fill out a questionnaire that asks for basic and disability information and a photo.
But it also asks questions based on certain characteristics:
- Will they respond to their name if called?
- What are their fears, likes and dislikes?
- Do they have any common places they like to hide?
- Is their residence close to any type of body of water?
- What is their meltdown behavior like?
- Do have any triggers?
- What calming strategies do they respond to?
All of this information, Fowler said, will go a long way for officers.
