SOUTH BRUNSWICK – Police continue to educate residents on the Special Needs Registry program.
The program allows officers to immediately access a photograph and vital information of a person with special needs. Police devised the program last year after analysis showed one-third of missing people in South Brunswick in 2016 had special needs, according to information provided by the South Brunswick Police Department.
“The program has received a tremendous response …” Police Chief Raymond Hayducka said in the statement.
Police can provide families and residents with special needs decals to affix to their homes and vehicles if they so desire, to indicate they are in the registry. The presence of a decal on a vehicle will alert the police officer to the possible presence of a special needs registrant in the vehicle or in the home upon arriving at a scene, according to the statement. The use of the decal is completely voluntarily.
The information requested to register a special needs person includes the registrant’s personal identifiers such as his/her name, address, height, weight, emergency contact information, some details about their special needs and a recent photo. The registrant can also elect to provide additional information about themselves such as medical conditions, places frequented, method of communication, calming methods and triggering conditions.
For more information, call 732-329-4000, ext. 7469 or email specialneedsreg@sbtnj.net.
