Software to Help Department Locate At Risk Residents
BEDFORD — Chief Robert Bongiorno is pleased to announce that the Bedford Police Department has implemented a new, free program to assist officers with locating residents who are prone to wandering and becoming lost.
The program, titled SafeWatch, is a feature of Delphi Technology Solutions’ Digital HeadQuarters software, which compiles information about residents at risk for potentially wandering or going missing, including those with autism, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
“We’re implementing SafeWatch so that if a person goes missing, police have information and a picture on file to respond quickly using techniques that have the highest likelihood of leading to a successful outcome,” Chief Bongiorno said. “We hope to connect and get to know more of our residents through this program and in turn improve our services to the community.”
The SafeWatch software works by storing information that will help police locate a missing individual, like a photo, physical description, known places the individual visits and more. The program is modeled after the state’s Silver Alert program and will also allow the Bedford Police Department to quickly create missing person flyers and BOLOs in the event that an individual goes missing.
To register for the program, residents should complete the SafeWatch form online at bedfordpd.org, or by calling the Bedford Police Department at 781-275-1212 (ask for Lt. James Graham). Those with questions, or who want to set up an appointment to fill out the form and go over specifics, can email Lt. Graham at jgraham@police.bedfordma.gov.
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