'Project Return Safely' Offers Vital Service

Police officer with children

The Lower Providence Township Police Department is proud to expand upon an already successful initiative. “Project Return Safely” is a program for families of individuals who may not be able to communicate with a law enforcement officer because of various physical and/or cognitive conditions. The program assists police officers in reuniting caregivers with lost or wandering loved ones suffering from Alzheimer's disease, Autism, or other incapacitating conditions. It is a valuable tool in identifying distressed individuals quickly and effectively.

The police department recognizes time is of the essence and having background information will help our officers to make informed decisions on how to peacefully intervene to avoid those actions that will likely trigger fear, anxiety or even a violent response. We use the program to gather and maintain individual enrollment records. This information is placed in a secure database that can be accessed in a police cruiser or back at the station. If officers find someone who cannot communicate where he/she lives, they can search the database by description and safely return the person to their family or care givers. The system also works in reverse - if a loved one goes missing, their picture and description are immediately available.

Project Return Safely is voluntary and all information is kept confidential.

There is no charge for participation nor an enrollment fee. However, there is a responsibility and commitment of participants to keep the system up to date and current.

Please take a moment to register your loved one today, so you can help us help them. Once registered, officers can search for information specific to the person to include a physical description, photographs, medical conditions, home address as well as a list of individuals to contact in the event of an emergency. To enroll in the program, simply complete the Project Return Safely registration form as well as attach a recent photograph of the participant. Click here for the registration form.

The registration form and photograph can be emailed to: mstead@lowerprovidence.org or dropped off at the Police Department, 100 Parklane Drive, Eagleville, PA 19403.

For additional information, please contact Sergeant Mark Stead at (610) 635-3571 or mstead@lowerprovidence.org.