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Community Corner

Sheriff's Department Helps Bring Loved Ones Home

A new program, overseen by a crime prevention specialist in the Encinitas station, assists people with special needs.

For a caregiver of someone with special needs, it’s one of the worst fears: Their charge, for whatever reason, goes missing and has no way to communicate to anyone who they are or where they live.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department has taken a big step toward easing those fears with its new Take Me Home program. Its database of people with developmental or medical conditions—whether it’s an autistic child or a senior with Alzheimer’s—allows officers to quickly identify them and offer the proper assistance.

“I think as word about the program gets out, people will be amazed; they will have a sense of confidence that they will get someone back sooner than they would have before,” says Henry Tirado, a crime prevention specialist based out of the Encinitas Sheriff’s Station and one of two lead program managers for Take Me Home.

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The concept originated about a year ago with Brian Herritt, an officer at Palomar who worried about what would happen if his autistic son were ever to go missing. An initial $20,000 was put into the program, the main component of which is a database that uses a platform similar to one the department uses to track criminals.

Tirado has been building relationships with agencies such as the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County, the Autism Society of Southern California, and San Diego Regional Center, which can help register their clients in the free program.

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Caregivers submit a photo and detailed information that includes not only basics such as name, age and address, but also extensive details on medical conditions and behavior patterns. (If a 250-pound autistic teen is coming toward an officer, it’s important for that officer to know the teen just likes to hug law enforcement personnel, Tirado says.) When a call comes in, officers can get a thorough synopsis on the person relayed to them from the department’s communications center.

There are about 97 people currently enrolled in the secure database; Tirado expects that number to jump to more than 500 after April 1, when the agencies will have easier access to the database to upload information to it directly. Tirado adds that the Sheriff’s Department has reached out to the San Diego and Oceanside police departments with the aim of building a true regional partnership.

“Take Me Home is a wonderful tool for families that puts law enforcement officials on alert when a family member wanders,” says Anna King, director of programs for the Alzheimer’s Association San Diego/Imperial Chapter. “The photo identification on file lets officials know that the person is not a threat and may not be able to answer a question about identity or destination. It makes their approach to that person compassionate.”

For more information, call 760-966-3588 or 760-738-2425, or visit sdsheriff.net and click on the “Community Outreach” link.

Parking Party

Scripps Encinitas celebrates the first phase of its expansion plans with a grand-opening party for its new three-story parking structure April 29. The beach-themed community bash boasts a buffet, displays of woodie cars and historical photos, and live music from The Heroes and the Mario Olivares Band. The party takes place from 6 to 9:30 p.m. on the top level of the structure, and tickets are $20, or $50 for VIP admission.

The parking garage, which has 881 spaces, is the first new construction at the hospital since the early 1990s and is part of a project that includes expansion of the emergency and critical-care facilities. For more information, visit scrippsexpansion.com.

Feeling Whiskey

If you’re in the mood for a decadent epicurean experience, Bentley’s Steak & Chop House hosts a five-course “Whiskeys of the World” dinner at 6 p.m. April 6. The cost is $65; make reservations at 760-632-9333. For more information, visit bentleyssteak.com.

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