The Chehalis Police Department on Tuesday announced its participation in Project Guardian, a free, voluntary program intended to help keep loved ones with intellectual and developmental disabilities such as autism safe.
Chehalis joins the Centralia Police Department as a participant in the project. Centralia announced its pilot program last October.
When a person with special needs is enrolled in the Project Guardian program, first responders have access to basic information, a current digital photograph, family emergency contact information and other details that might help officers when encountering the individual.
The program is based on Project Guardian developed by the Newport News Police Department in Virginia. It was later adapted by the Yakima Police Department.
Caregivers can register family members with special needs by completing an online application. The application must be completed every January.
Registered families will be mailed stickers for placement on homes and vehicles to alert first responders they might be contacting someone enrolled in Project Guardian.
The program is a free, voluntary and confidential database offered, managed and maintained by the Chehalis Police Department for people living within the city limits of Chehalis.
The form and additional information can be found at https://www.ci.chehalis.wa.us/police/project-guardian.
For information on the Centralia Police Department’s program, visit https://www.cityofcentralia.com/558/Project-Guardian.
