Project Lifesaver

Mission

The Ashland Police Department is proud to be an agency that is a member of Project Lifesaver. The primary mission of Project Lifesaver is to provide timely response to save lives and reduce potential injury for adults and children who wander due to Alzheimer’s, autism, and other related conditions or disorders.

Finding Wanderers

The task of searching for wandering or lost individuals with Alzheimer’s, autism, Down syndrome, dementia, or cognitive conditions is a growing and serious responsibility. Without effective procedures and equipment, searches can involve multiple agencies, hundreds of officers, countless hours, and thousands of dollars.

More importantly, because time is of the essence, every minute lost increases the risk of a tragic outcome.

Enrollment Information

Citizens enrolled in Project Lifesaver wear a small personal transmitter around the wrist or ankle that emits an individualized tracking signal. If an enrolled client goes missing, the caregiver notifies the Ashland Police Department, and trained officers respond to the area and begin searching with specialized equipment.

Most who wander are found within a few miles from home, and search times have reduced from hours and days to minutes.

Additional Information

For more information about Project Lifesaver visit the website or contact Officer Chip Watts at (804) 412-0615 or email cwatts@ashlandpolice.us.