The Arkansas City Police Dept. is launching a Safe Return initiative meant to serve the most vulnerable members of the community, Police Chief Eric Burr said Thursday.
These community members include adults who have Alzheimer’s or dementia and adults and children with autism, Down Syndrome, or any other developmental disorder. Burr said the program is already a success in other parts of the country, including the Bedford Police Department in Texas.
To enroll a participant in the Safe Return program or if you have any questions, please contact Master Police Officer Cori Tuxhorn at ctuxhorn@arkcity.org , or by calling 620-441-4437 or 620-441-6601.
The Safe Return program is a database maintained by the Arkansas City Police Department and is only accessible to public safety personnel. The information provided by caregivers or parents will help to assist the Arkansas City Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies if the participant goes missing. This can help law enforcement get the participant entered as a Silver Alert or an Endangered Missing Person much quicker, resulting in a better chance of a Safe Return home.
According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons database, more than 600,000 people were reported missing in 2021.
“When a vulnerable member of our community goes missing, seconds matter. The time that it takes to gather vital personal information is time that could be spent launching a full-scale search which includes broadcasting a description of the missing person to area public safety agencies. The Safe Return program will enable us to quickly and effectively communicate that information without delay,” says Police Chief Eric Burr.